University of Calgary
About Us
About the Colon Cancer Screening Centre
The Forzani and MacPhail Colon Cancer Screening Centre, which opened in January 2008, is the the only non-hospital colon cancer screening facility in Canada. Operated by the University of Calgary's Faculty of Medicine in partnership with the Calgary Health Region, the Centre will offer comprehensive care, with a focus on screening and detection of colon cancer.
The Centre was built in the true spirit of collaboration, involving the University of Calgary, the Calgary Health Region, the Division of Gastroenterology as well as the generous support of The Forzani Group Foundation, the MacPhail family and the community. In 2003, the Calgary Health Region made a commitment to expand the capacity to perform endoscopic procedures.
Arising from this significant commitment was the development of the Centre. The aim is to reduce the incidence of colon cancer, a disease which results in the death of approximately 9000 Canadians every year. This commitment to expanded screening capacity in the Calgary region underlines what we now know about this disease - it can be effectively prevented and treated when it is detected through screening in its earliest stages. An added benefit of the Centre is that it will free up capacity, in the existing hospital based system currently used for colon cancer screening, for the treatment of those with acute gastrointestinal disease.
In 2008 and 2009, the Centre will see approximately 10,000 people a year and that number will increase to 20,000 people per year by 2010. Beyond providing clinical screening and treatment, the Centre will be actively engaged in clinical research and education. Research activities include the evaluation of all current and potential techniques for colon cancer screening such as virtual colonography, fecal genetic testing, blood markers and pill cameras. Population health research will help us to better understand the risk factors that contribute to colon cancer and to pursue promising new screening techniques and treatments. The Centre is also committed to advancing public and medical education and awareness surrounding colon cancer screening and prevention.
As a state of the art, non-hospital facility, accredited by The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta, the Centre is the first of its kind in Canada. Located in the Teaching, Research and Wellness Building adjacent to the Faculty of Medicine on the Foothills Medical site, the Centre occupies 23,000 square feet and features of six endoscopy rooms, three reprocessing rooms, 24 recovery beds, six nurse-clinician pre-assessment rooms, a theatre for public and professional educational activities and research facilities.
The Centre is funded by the Calgary Health Region and is part of Alberta's publicly funded health care system. People are seen based on priority according to urgency and risk assessment in accordance with guidelines established by the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology. The result is that more patients can be seen and they can be seen sooner, increasing the chance of preventing colon cancer.
The Centre is also supported by the Alberta Cancer Board, who has provided funding to develop the information technology system that will be used to enhance patient care, improve reporting and complete clinic research. The Centre is very grateful for the generous support of its founding donors, The Forzani Group Foundation and the MacPhail family, as well as other supporters in the community.
Colon Cancer Screening in Alberta
In March of 2007, the Alberta Colorectal Cancer Screening Program was launched. It is a province-wide initiative recommending that all Albertans be tested annually using a fecal occult blood test (FOBT) beginning at age 50.
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