How Oshi was able to increase CRC screening rates by 20% and reduce colorectal cancer deaths

Oshi’s clinic has been working on a strategic and intentional effort to increase CRC screening rates. This work was undertaken with the goal of saving lives–colorectal cancer is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, yet only 59 percent of eligible Americans are adherent to screening protocols. As a high-touch virtual clinic, we are ideally suited to address barriers to CRC screening and increase access to clinical care to ensure appropriate and successful screening for all eligible adults.

Our goal is 100 percent screening compliance, and while we aren’t there yet, we are making strides toward that objective. In 2024, we partnered with a major national health plan to partner in their initiative to address gaps in screening. The results are in, and our strategy worked. We boosted CRC screening rates within this health plan’s population from 79 percent to an astounding 95 percent compliance. 

Keep reading to find out how we did it and what we are doing now to ensure that screening rates continue to increase.

Common barriers to screening

Oshi’s strategy to boost CRC screening rates is simple: We want to address each of the most common screening barriers and ensure that every patient has quality healthcare access so that every qualified patient can get screened. The most commonly cited reasons for missed screening are as follows: 

1. Fear and anxiety. Screening colonoscopies are invasive procedures, and many people fear pain and discomfort.
2. Health care access. Many patients don’t have regular visits with their primary care physicians or face extended delays when they request appointments with gastroenterologists. 
3. Efficacy concerns: Patients worry that if they do get screened, the procedure will fail, or they will not get accurate results or understand the results they get. 

How Oshi addresses these barriers

Oshi has implemented intentional quality measures to ensure that every patient who comes to us for any reason is assessed for CRC screening eligibility. Anyone who meets the recommendations of being 45 or older or having a family history of colorectal cancer is immediately educated on the importance of early CRC screening. From there, Oshi’s team intentionally addresses each of the most common barriers to screening through education and clinical support. 

Our clinical team starts by looking at each patient’s demographics so that we can recommend the appropriate screening for each patient’s individual needs. Then, we explain exactly what to expect from each type of screening. This education helps patients overcome fears and concerns and reassures them that while screenings can be a bit uncomfortable, that discomfort far outweighs the risk of cancer. 

Next, Oshi works to help these patients navigate their screening. If an at-home CRC screening test is appropriate, the Oshi team supports the patient in accessing the test and analyzing the results. If a screening colonoscopy is recommended, Oshi clinicians help that patient find a high-quality site of care to get the scope and help them set up an appointment. Through a novel partnership with the ACG and AGA, Oshi has developed partnerships with leading gastroenterology practices nationwide to facilitate scheduling and follow-through with colonoscopy for colon cancer screening and surveillance. This network will continue to grow in 2025.

Then, Oshi’s team counsels patients on how to prepare effectively to ensure accurate results. For example, they make dietary recommendations, help them to treat underlying constipation, and tell them to avoid drinking red or purple liquids or eating a low-fiber diet before screening. Oshi’s team provides specific instructions on preparing for screening so that patients know precisely how to prepare for a successful procedure.

Finally, after the results come in, Oshi’s expert medical staff communicates with the on-site GI doctors, then follows up with each patient, explaining the results, allowing them to ask questions, and supporting them if follow-up care is recommended. 

This four-step strategy has led to a statistically significant improvement in screening rates—up 20% from our already high baseline–and due to this success, we have already begun replicating these results across other health plans and populations. 

Increased screening means reduced cancer deaths

The National Cancer Institute has found a direct correlation between increased screening rates and reduced cancer deaths. Due to the efficacy of screening colonoscopies and the fact that gastroenterologists can remove precancerous polyps during screening, CRC screening is among the most impactful cancer screening programs. It is, in fact, the only screening proven to actually prevent cancer. The NCI estimates that for every 10 percent increase in CRC screening, we can expect upwards of a 21 percent reduction in colorectal cancer deaths. 

To put that in human terms, with recommended screening, 21 people out of every 100 people who would have otherwise died from colorectal cancer would survive. That’s 21 mothers, fathers, grandfathers, and grandmothers–21 human beings whose lives are spared simply due to early detection.

Virtual care and CRC screening

CRC screenings are not only proven to be safe and effective, but they are also essential for staying healthy. 

There is an ongoing assumption that GI care requires hands-on, in-person care. This likely stems from the fact that most GI testing and screening programs have traditionally involved a scope. Oshi’s work has proven that wraparound, virtual GI care that includes recommended CRC screening is not only possible but also effective. 

We are proud that these efforts have detected thousands of cancers earlier, ultimately saving lives. This month, during Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, we plan to continue this life-saving work, and we look forward to reporting even more significant increases in the coming months.