NFL Support American Cancer Society's Get Screened Initiative

The American Cancer Society (ACS) has announced a partnership with Neighborhood Health to improve colorectal cancer screening rates as part of the national Get Screened initiative. The focus of this initiative is to partner with institutions across the country to drive quality improvement processes and interventions to deliver cancer screenings appropriately, safely, and equitably. This specific intervention is made possible through funding provided by the National Football League (NFL).

While the world continues to face ongoing challenges from COVID-19, cancer has not taken a break. Many Americans have continued to put preventative health measures, including cancer screening, on hold, resulting in later state diagnoses. In response, ACS created Get Screened Quality Improvement Projects to support health systems with quality improvement tools and evidence-based interventions to improve screening rates.

ACS and the NFL have a long-standing partnership dating back to 2009. Through this Crucial Catch Program, health system grantees have reached more than one million individuals with education, patient reminders, and navigation to screening, and contributed to health interventions, including breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening and HPV vaccinations. Special thanks to the NFL for their support of these efforts increase cancer education and awareness and promote life-saving cancer screening and HPV vaccination.

Neighborhood Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center that serves the City of Alexandria, Arlington County, and Fairfax County. In 2021, they served over 32,000 low-income residents, almost half were uninsured. The health center provides high quality comprehensive primary health care including primary medical care (pediatrics, adult medicine, and women’s health), prenatal care, dental care, behavioral health, medication assistance, HIV care, Medicaid application assistance, and case management regardless of ability to pay.

Neighborhood Health’s Executive Director Dr. Basim Khan says, “The support from the American Cancer Society has been critical to our ability to increase colorectal cancer screening for our community health center patients who face many barriers to accessing this lifesaving preventive care. Our project utilizes home test kits and case management by Neighborhood Health staff to walk patients through the whole process.”

Success for this initiative includes: minimizing the effects of the pandemic on breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening; addressing disparities and reducing barriers to screening exacerbated by the pandemic; creating learning communities to foster best practice sharing; and executing long lasting, sustainable, and meaningful process.

For more information, Nara Hojvat-Gallin (703) 727-6235, nhojvat@neighborhoodhealthva.org

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