All research presented at ACG 2025 is strictly embargoed until 12:00 pm local Arizona Time, which aligns with Pacific Daylight Time (PDT)/3:00 pm ET on Sunday, October 26, 2025.
P4788 – The Impact of a Patient Navigation System on Colonoscopy Completion Rates
Tuesday, October 28, 2025 | 10:30 AM – 4:00 PM PDT | Exhibit Hall
Author Insight from Joshua Freeman, DO
What’s new here and important for clinicians?
Patients at Federally Qualified Health Centers face significant barriers in completing their follow-up colonoscopies after positive stool testing. Potential barriers include transportation issues, lack of insurance, language barriers and/or low health literacy leading to difficulty navigating the scheduling process and poor understanding of the importance and benefit of completing colonoscopy. Patient navigators who are experienced in both working with hospital partners and with patients to reduce these barriers are a potential way to improve access to colonoscopy after positive stool testing.
A team-based approach to care for patients can enable the medical provider to focus on providing medical care of the patient, and other team members to support the patient in scheduling and following through with their colonoscopies. Patient Navigators can connect patients and partner hospitals, support with transportation and insurance issues, remind patients to follow up, and close the loop on open referrals for colonoscopy. This is especially useful at a place like an FQHC, where many patients are uninsured or do not speak English as their primary language.
What do patients need to know?
A positive stool screening test indicates there is either blood or altered DNA detected, which can be seen in precancerous or cancerous growths. This does not automatically mean you have colon cancer, but it is important to look directly at your colon with colonoscopy after a positive test.
At some clinics, Patient Navigators can help you schedule your appointment for colonoscopy after a positive stool test, help you get to your test, and follow up with you after to make sure the test was completed, and your doctor has the results.
Author Contact
Joshua Freeman, DO
Swedish Covenant Hospital
Chicago, IL
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