The initiative gives eligible pharmacy customers a streamlined pathway to request the Cologuard stool DNA test, with no prep or special diet required.
Walgreens is launching a nationwide colorectal cancer screening initiative this month, partnering with Exact Sciences and Workflow Services to connect eligible pharmacy customers with the Cologuard stool DNA test—an effort the companies say is aimed at closing persistent gaps in screening uptake across the US.
The program, announced in recognition of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, integrates a screening pathway directly into pharmacy operations through Workflow Services, a clinical workflow software platform. Eligible, average-risk customers can now access educational tools and resources at Walgreens locations and request screening with Cologuard, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved, non-invasive stool DNA test indicated for adults 45 and older at average risk for colorectal cancer.
Colorectal cancer is expected to claim more than 55,000 lives in the US this year, according to the press release, and has become the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. Despite being highly preventable, more than 1 in 3 US adults are not up to date with colorectal screening, according to the release.
“As a trusted health partner in the community, we have a unique opportunity to change the trajectory of this disease,” says Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer, Walgreens, in a release. “We are offering eligible patients’ education around their colon cancer screening options and giving them access to take action. Use-at-home stool-based tests like Cologuard allow customers to prioritize their health in a convenient way. By making screening a seamless part of the pharmacy experience, we are helping our patients take proactive, life-saving action.”
Pharmacy-Integrated Screening at Scale
Workflow Services is providing the software infrastructure that enables pharmacists to deliver the screening program at scale. The platform integrates clinical service programs directly into pharmacy workflows, allowing pharmacist-led initiatives to reach patients who might otherwise go unscreened.
As pharmacies increasingly serve as access points for clinical services, the Walgreens initiative represents one of the more visible examples of that shift—bringing a cancer screening pathway into a retail pharmacy setting with a national footprint of nearly 8,000 stores.
“Exact Sciences is proud to support Walgreens in this preventative health initiative to increase screening rates,” says Jake Orville, executive vice president and general manager of screening, Exact Sciences, in a release. “Cologuard tests have made a significant positive impact on screening uptake in the United States, and this effort represents an exciting new way to bring the opportunity to screen to patients via their local pharmacy.”
About the Cologuard Test
The Cologuard test requires no bowel prep, no special diet, and no time away from work, according to the release. It is covered by most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid. When colorectal cancer is caught in its early stages, the five-year survival rate is 91%, according to the release.
ID 206978177 © Gerald D. Tang | Dreamstime.com
