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UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

NC PICCS

Background

The North Carolina Partnerships to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening (NC PICCS) is a CDC-funded Colorectal Cancer Control Program. This five-year grant works with federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) to improve colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates in North Carolina through quality improvement (QI) efforts. The Carolina Cancer Screening Initiative partners with the American Cancer Society (ACS) and the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Cancer Prevention and Control Branch to use the QI collaborative learning model employed by ACS to implement evidence-based interventions that the CDC has identified through The Community Guide. The UNC Site Principal Investigator (PI) is Dr. Renée Ferrari. 

Our Strategy

CRC screening rates are lower than they should be in North Carolina and CRC remains our state’s second leading cause of cancer deaths. NC PICCS aims to support North Carolina’s FQHC CRC screening efforts. The project has several components, including the following: 

  • 2-day CRC Screening Quality Improvement Boot Camp for FQHCs; 
  • Expert-led work through of QI process with FQHCs over a 12-month period; 
  • Monthly learning collaborative meetings highlighting peer support and learning; 
  • QI coaching and technical assistance for FQHCs; and 
  • Follow-up services for program-eligible people.

Project Publications

Rohweder C, Wangen M, Black M, Dolinger H, Wolf M, O’Reilly C, Brandt H, Leeman J. Understanding quality improvement collaboratives through an implementation science lens. Prev Med. 2019 Dec;129S:105859. doi: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2019.105859. Epub 2019 Oct 23. PMID: 31655174; PMCID: PMC7138534.