Transcript
Announcer:
This is Clinician’s Roundtable on ReachMD. On this episode, we’ll hear from Dr. Mallik Greene, who will be examining the role of OB/GYNs in colorectal cancer screening. Dr. Greene’s background includes a PhD and a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Economics and Outcomes Research as well as a Doctorate in Business Administration. Here he is now.
Dr. Greene:
Even with the effective screening options available, CRC screening rates among women are still below national targets or averages. One of the biggest gaps is the younger eligible women, those between 45 to 49 years of age, who were only more recently included in screening guidelines. We also continue to see disparities based on insurance type, income, and geography. So while we've made progress overall, there are still clear groups that are being missed or underserved.
Many women have longstanding trusted relationships with their OB/GYNs, and for some, they may be the only provider they see regularly. That creates a really important access point for preventive care. OB/GYN visits are often routine and longitudinal, so there is a natural opportunity to introduce conversations about colorectal cancer screening. So rather than thinking of screening as something that only happens in primary care, OB/GYNs can play an important or complementary role in reaching patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks.
I think one of the most practical steps is simply to normalize the conversation between OB/GYNs and patients. Bringing up colorectal cancer screening during routine visits, just like we do for other preventive services, can make a big difference. From there, incorporating something like stool DNA testing into the workflow can make screening more accessible and easier for patients to complete. And just as importantly, having a system in place to ensure follow-up of a positive result is key, because screening is really a process, not just a single test.
Announcer:
That was Dr. Mallik Greene discussing why OB/GYNs are important in improving colorectal cancer screening rates. To access this and other episodes in our series, visit Clinician’s Roundtable on ReachMD.com, where you can Be Part of the Knowledge. Thanks for listening!
