Colorectal Cancer Screening Continuing Education
In partnership with CDC, Medscape Education developed two continuing education courses for primary care providers (PCPs) on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. Course goals are to increase CRC screening and improve CRC screening quality.
CRC Screening and Surveillance: Optimizing Quality
1.0 CME/CNE credits
Released March 24, 2021. Valid for credit through March 24, 2023.
This clinical anthology course has three related sections.
Author: Douglas Corley, MD, PhD; Kaiser Permanente, Northern California
This section covers—
- Why CRC screening is important as a cancer prevention and control tool for PCPs.
- How PCPs can screen for CRC using stool-based and direct visualization screening options.
- How to determine the timing and frequency of CRC screening using factors such as personal history or family history of polyps or CRC, age, and comorbidities (risk stratification).
Author: Michael P. Pignone, MD, MPH; Dell Medical School, University of Texas, Austin, Texas
This section covers—
- The pros and cons of current stool-based testing options.
- Seven essential steps to developing a high-quality home stool testing program.
- The need for a systematic approach for stool testing programs that includes regular testing and follow-up colonoscopy.
Author: Jennifer Weiss, MD, MS; University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
This section covers—
- Colonoscopy implementation challenges and how to address these challenges.
- Guidance for ensuring adequate bowel preparation for colonoscopy.
- Colonoscopy safety considerations.
- How to interpret the colonoscopy report.
- How to use metrics and benchmarks to monitor procedure quality.
Screening for Colorectal Cancer: Recommended Best Practices

0.5 CME/CNE credits
Released March 15, 2021. Valid for credit through March 15, 2023.
Presenter: David Lieberman, MD; Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
In this video lecture, Dr. Lieberman provides current guidance for PCPs on ways to optimize CRC screening and offers effective strategies to improve the quality of CRC screening implementation.
The lecture covers key CRC screening topics, including—
- The importance of regular CRC screening.
- The role of the PCP in risk stratification for CRC screening based on age, personal or family history of polyps or CRC, and other factors.
- Recommended stool-based and direct visualization screening strategies.
- Performance metrics for an effective stool-based screening program.
- Quality indicators for colonoscopy.
- Post-colonoscopy and post-polypectomy follow-up recommendations.
- A programmatic approach to CRC screening.
- The role of patient navigators in CRC screening and follow-up.