New York City Health Department and Health and Hospitals Corporation Announce 62% Increase in Citywide Colonoscopy RateCity redoubles efforts to close the gap among Russian-speaking community
The New York City Health Department and the Health and Hospitals Corporation (HHC) announced today that in just under a decade New York City's colonoscopy rate has increased by 62%, signaling a major step forward in the fight against one of the most common - and deadliest - cancers. The city's average colonoscopy rate is now 67%, up from 42% in 2003 when New York City first began tracking colonoscopy rates. During this time, a citywide push to increase screening rates has also eliminated racial disparities. In 2010, colonoscopy rates in the Asian community were on par with African-Americans, whites, and Hispanics for the first time. However, the colonoscopy rate among Russian-speaking New Yorkers trails behind the citywide rate. The City will work with community partners to better understand the reason for the lag and find ways to increase colon cancer screenings. The announcement was made at the Coney Island Hospital in conjunction with the City's partnership with the Citywide Colon Cancer Control Coalition.