Baptist Health Care has received the American Cancer Society (ACS) Colorectal Cancer Partnership (CRC) Award in recognition of its support and efforts in colorectal cancer screening.

The CRC Partnership Award will provide Baptist Cancer Institute with a $5,000 grant to support colorectal cancer screening initiatives in 2017. The purpose of this award is to recognize hospital systems that have embraced a shared goal to regularly screen 80 percent of adults 50 and over by 2018, have a high level of engagement with ACS, and are currently working or planning colorectal cancer prevention and screening initiatives.

“At Baptist Health Care, we believe that preventative care and screening programs, along with persistent patient education, are vital services that we need to continue to bolster in order to gain traction in the fight against cancer,” says Bryan Taylor, director of general surgery/oncology service lines, Baptist Health Care. “This grant will give us the opportunity to further invest in our Digestive Health Open Access program, whereby screening colonoscopies are personally navigated by a registered nurse from start to finish. All that is needed is a referral from your primary care or specialty physician and we take care of the rest.”

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death and a cause of considerable suffering among more than 140,000 adults diagnosed each year. However, colorectal cancer can be detected early at a curable stage and it can be prevented through detection and removal of precancerous polyps.

Up to 25 hospital systems in Florida are being recognized through the Colorectal Cancer Partnership Awards.

Baptist Health Care is a community-owned, not-for-profit health care organization committed to improving the quality of life for people and communities in northwest Florida and south Alabama. The organization is a proud member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network. A 2003 Malcolm Baldrige recipient, Baptist continuously strives to be a national leader in quality and service.

Baptist Health Care includes three hospitals, two medical parks, Andrews Institute for Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine, Lakeview Center, Baptist Medical Group and Cardiology Consultants. With more than 6,500 employees and employed physicians, Baptist Health Care is the largest non-governmental employer in northwest Florida. For more information, please visit www.eBaptistHealthCare.org.