Cancer screening
The NYTHP Primary Care Network Cancer Screening Program and Performance and Evaluation Committee lead is Dr. Harvey Blankenstein.
If you have questions, please contact him below.
Regional Cancer Screening Program Updates:
Colon Cancer Check
On July 1, 2026, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) will introduce updates to the ColonCancerCheck program, including a new laboratory service provider, a new fecal immunochemical test (FIT) device and several program changes that reflect the evolving evidence on colorectal cancer.
ColonCancerCheck will implement the following program changes:
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Average risk participants will start screening with FIT at age 45 (previously age 50).
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New family history recommendations will ensure that participants get the most appropriate screening test based on their level of colorectal cancer risk.
Several important process changes will also be introduced:
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ColonCancerCheck is switching from LifeLabs to In-Common Laboratories (ICL) for the distribution and testing of all program-related FITs. More information on working with ICL can be found in the frequently asked questions document attached.
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A new FIT requisition for use with ICL, the new laboratory. The new FIT requisition and ICL fax number will be added to EMRs starting July 1st, 2026.
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A new FIT device will be used. Before go-live, you will get a sample of the new FIT device for demonstration purposes.
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Ontario Health (CCO) has indicated that FIT results will be sent by fax until EMR linkage is possible.
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Resources to help you prepare for these changes are attached to this email, and available at ontariohealth.ca/coloncancercheckhub, including:
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FIT requisition form and instructions (do not start using until July 1, 2026)
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ColonCancerCheck Guide to Colorectal Cancer Screening in Ontario
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Frequently Asked Questions for Primary Care Providers
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Ontario Health Webinars
In addition, Ontario Health (Cancer Care Ontario) will be offering webinar sessions prior to launch for primary care providers:
Webinar 1: May 26, 5:00-6:00 pm
Registration Link
Webinar 2: June 10, 7:30-8:30 am
Registration Link
Additional information and resources:
Physician-linked correspondence
for colorectal and cervical cancer screening
Cancer screening letters are a key way to encourage people to get screened.
Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) offers physician-linked correspondence, which includes the name of the person's physician on personalized letters.
Click here to download the PDF to print, sign and fax to CCO who will take care of the rest.
The letters, generated by the organized cancer screening program, invite and remind enrolled patients to get screened. The results of a two-phase pilot study conducted by the Colon Cancer Check program demonstrated that physician-linked correspondence is an effective way to motivate eligible Ontarians to get screened for cancer.
Physician-linked correspondence is available to all patient enrolment model physicians in the province for colorectal cancer screening and cervical cancer screening.
Optimizing your digital tools - A Primary Care Guide: Using the SAR and EMR to Improve Cancer Screening
Click here for a helpful document that outlines how a family practice office can use the Screening Activity Report (SAR) and EMR to improve cancer screening.
Tips for identifying patients for cancer screening on your EMR (Accuro, OSCAR and PSS)
Click here for the 'Accuro User Guide' with tips on how to import/download alerts from Accura Cloud for PAP/FIT/colonoscopy/mammogram.
The alert/search names are as shown:
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NYFHT_Due for colorectal screening
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NYFHT_Due for cervical screening
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NYFHT_Due for mammogram
Visit this site for an explanation on how to use Report for Templates and how to load the TXT search tool on to OSCAR (provided in the link below).
Download the Report By Template “Overdue Preventions" by saving it to your computer (Right Click and Save As) and upload the file to your OSCAR EMR in the admin panel.
It runs a list of patients who have not had a prevention - you can choose from a list of types of preventions including PAP, FOBT/FIT, COLONSCOPY, MAMMOGRAM) with parameters on the interval, age and gender.
It also contains links to the patient chart and eChart.
For more tips and tricks on how to maximize OSCAR for your practice, visit OSCAR Galaxy, an OSCAR community-built website and online manual that contains the latest eForms and other digital tools and tips or join the OSCAR Ontario Facebook Group.
