Collaboration for Equitable Health improves rates of colorectal cancer screening and improves care access for underserved communities

In a concerted effort to reduce health disparities and improve access to care for colorectal cancer screenings in Chicago, Sinai Chicago Health System (Sinai), Chicago Family Health Center, and Lawndale Christian Health Center have joined forces as part of the Collaboration for Equitable Health.

Powered by Bank of America and led by the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society, and the American Diabetes Association, Collaboration for Equitable Health aims to address systemic health inequities, particularly focusing on the South and West Side communities in Chicago.

The four-year, $25-million collaboration, launched in 2022, aims to improve health outcomes for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian American and Native American communities, with a specific focus on the leading causes of death in communities of color: heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Chicago is one of 11 cities where the Collaboration for Equitable Health was initially launched.

Health inequities for Black, Hispanic-Latino, Asian American, and Native American populations represent a long-standing systemic challenge that was exacerbated by the pandemic. In these underrepresented communities, heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, stroke, and diabetes are the top five leading causes of death. What’s more, Black individuals have the highest death rate and shortest survival of any racial/ethnic group in the United States, while cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic individuals, accounting for 20% of deaths nationwide.

“Enhancing access to education, resources, and screenings is key to eliminating the health disparities that have persisted for far too long,” said Rita Cook, president of Bank of America Chicago. “Through community education, capacity building, increased access to screenings, and advocacy at the state and local levels, communities across Chicago are already seeing a rise in preventative screenings, which correlate directly with improved health outcomes. We look forward to building on this positive momentum and to ensuring every Chicagoan has equitable access to healthcare.”

Sinai, serving as the specialty care provider, has partnered with Chicago Family Health Center and Lawndale Christian Health Center, primary care providers, to streamline processes and facilitate patients’ journeys from colorectal cancer screening through follow-up care and treatment. Year one of the project focused on clarifying roles and identifying key challenges, including communication of pathology results, bowel preparation processes, and financial counseling for patients.

Dr. Ali Haider, Gastroenterology, of Sinai Chicago emphasized the importance of this collaboration.

“Mt. Sinai could not do this without our partners Chicago Family and Lawndale Christian. We are achieving our goals together. The improvements in our community outreach speak loudly. As partners, I’m so grateful we share the same vision to help our community members, no matter what their background or socioeconomic status.”

Chicago Family Health Center’s Loraine Moreno, Director of Women’s Health for Chicago Family Health Center and core Collaboration for Equitable Health project team member echoed the sentiment.

“We don’t want these patients waiting if they don’t have to. Fortunately, Sinai Chicago has a new facility that we can refer the patients to. They can turn them around and get them appointments within a couple of weeks.”

Moreno also noted a significant increase in colorectal cancer screening rates since the launch of the initiative. Since the launch of the colorectal screening initiative, Chicago Family Health Center has seen colorectal cancer screening rates go from 17% of the population to 25%, and it continues to trend upward.

In year two, Lawndale plans to implement an at-home stool-based screening program through mail, confident that patients with positive results will navigate through follow-up, diagnostic, and treatment processes effectively. Sinai will ensure efficient communication of results with Primary Care Providers at Lawndale and track care transition times to maintain efficiency and timely access to care.

Andrew Wang, Ph.D., Population Health Director at Lawndale Christian Health Center, reflected on the impact of the partnership.

“The opportunity to embark on the Collaboration for Equitable Health in partnership with our community hospital, Sinai Chicago, has been invaluable, allowing us to engage with our historical relationship with them and ensure access to cancer care and treatment for vulnerable and underserved populations residing in the West Side of Chicago.”

The collaboration between these esteemed health organizations signifies a significant step forward in addressing health disparities and promoting equitable access to healthcare resources for all Chicagoans.