Annapolis, MD / PRWeb / March 28, 2014 – Preventing Colorectal Cancer (PCC) announces the recipients of the 2014 PCC Champion Award for Colorectal Cancer Prevention, an honor the not-for-profit organization established in 2011 to recognize individuals, groups and companies that provide either exceptionally high standards of care or that most effectively advocate for the prevention and early detection of colorectal cancer.
Cambia Health Solutions, headquartered in Portland, OR, is receiving the award for its ongoing efforts to remove artificial barriers that otherwise depress the number of patients who undergo potentially life-saving colorectal cancer screening colonoscopies. Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation, Vienna, VA, and Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation, Chattanooga, TN, are recipients of the 2014 PCC Champion Award for providing dynamic community-based advocacy programs. Aasma Shaukat, MD, gastroenterologist and clinical researcher based in Minneapolis, MN, is recognized for her research involving colorectal cancer screening.
“We want to spotlight those who share PCC’s deep commitment to high-quality screening and display exemplary support of the fight against colorectal cancer,” says C. Taney Hamill, PCC board member and principal, Silopanna Consulting, Annapolis, MD. “The clinical and financial benefits of a colonoscopy are well-supported in the health care industry as a reliable screening tool to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer.”
About the 2014 Champion Award recipients:
• Cambia Health Solutions: Through Regence, Cambia Health Solutions has favored policies ensuring members receive no-cost share benefits when a screening colonoscopy includes removal of a polyp. In these instances, Cambia pays for the colonoscopy claim and associated charges, including anesthesia, prescription, and lab work. Cambia has been a leader in advocating for expanded patient access to colorectal cancer screening in state legislatures. As a key health care stakeholder in multiple states, Cambia is playing an integral role in raising awareness and access to life-saving colonoscopies.
• Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation: The principal goal of the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation is to permanently eliminate the threat of colon cancer through discovery of a cure. Until a cure is found, Chris4Life is committed to significantly improving the treatment for patients and caregivers and to dramatically raise awareness about colon cancer in general. The organization sponsors the Love Your Butt awareness campaign with a mission to encourage people to open up and talk about their bottom or create a “call to action” for individuals to get screened.
• Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation (GCCCF): GCCCF was formed in 2012 to raise awareness of colon cancer and ways to prevent it. Each year, hundreds of people participate in the organization’s Rump Run to raise funds to support local projects to help increase awareness of CRC, improve access to screening and offer support to those impacted by the disease.
• Aasma Shaukat, MD, gastroenterologist and clinical researcher, Minneapolis VA Medical Center: Dr. Shaukat is a dedicated clinical researcher and advocate for colon cancer screening and prevention with an excellent track record. Recognized as a national and international leader in the field, she continues to make significant contributions to colon cancer prevention efforts through her compassionate approach, enthusiasm and innovative research.
“The selection committee felt that Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation, Greater Chattanooga Colon Cancer Foundation, Dr. Shaukat and Cambia Health Solutions have gone above and beyond to promote colorectal cancer screenings in an effort to save lives,” says Stanford R. Plavin, MD, vice chair of PCC and president and managing partner, Ambulatory Anesthesia of Atlanta. “Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in minority populations, and this year’s winners have achieved results consistent with the highest national benchmarks while serving a very large community.”
To view past Champion Award recipients, visit www.preventingcolorectalcancer.org.
About Preventing Colorectal Cancer (www.preventingcolorectalcancer.org)
Headquartered in Annapolis, MD, Preventing Colorectal Cancer (PCC) preserves the tradition of safe, comfortable and quality-based medicine. PCC is a not-for-profit 501(c) 6 advocacy organization with the primary mission to educate both public and private stakeholders about the opportunities to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer through promoting effective screening, prevention and care options for patients. Membership is open to all individuals and groups.