Programs cut colorectal cancer diagnosis down to 10 days in two Ont. hospitals

The William Osler Health System, which operates hospitals in Brampton and Etobicoke, drastically cut colorectal cancer screening, diagnosis and surgeon referral wait times by combining a pair of programs to streamline how patients are processed. The fecal immunochemical test (FIT) central intake process and colorectal diagnostic assessment program (DAP) and referral program reduced the screening and diagnosis process for colorectal cancer from weeks to days. The FIT central intake program starts at the family doctor level and streamlines the referral and testing process should a routine FIT test show possible signs of cancer. The DAP referral program then speeds up the patient care and surgical referral process following a colorectal cancer diagnosis. Osler hopes the programs will improve early detection rates, which will hopefully in turn improve overall colorectal cancer survivability rates.