New York City-based NYC Health + Hospitals screened more than 50,000 patients for colorectal cancer in 2023 using an at-home fecal immunochemical test.
The system launched a Colorectal Cancer Screening Registry, which encourages primary care physicians to offer at-home tests at annual appointments to patients who are eligible for a colorectal cancer screening. The at-home kit includes a prepaid envelope, instructions available in 14 languages and the kit, according to a March 26 system news release.
Patients use a brush to obtain a small amount of stool, then send the test kit by mail to a lab for testing. If blood is detected, patients may be recommended a follow-up colonoscopy.
The number of kits used at home increased 20% compared to 2022.