The incidence of colorectal cancer among U.S. adults, particularly in people under 50, has been climbing rapidly in recent years.
Gastrointestinal cancers overall — including colorectal, stomach and pancreatic — are rising more quickly than any other type of cancer in people younger than 50, according to a July 17 study published in JAMA. CRC is the most common, with nearly 21,000 cases in 2022 alone.
In an effort to combat this trend, numerous health systems are ramping up their investments in GI care, from increasing outpatient services to enhancing technology.
Salt Lake City-based Intermountain Health is one of these systems. Intermountain recently opened a free-standing endoscopy center and ASC in Sandy, Utah, and has plans to open at least two more in the near future, the Sandy Journal reported Sept. 24.
Outpatient centers have become optimal settings for colonoscopies and other GI procedures due to their lower overhead costs and accessible, streamlined experience for patients.
“With the opening of our new endoscopy centers, Intermountain Health is increasing access to a lower-cost alternative for digestive health diagnostic and therapeutic procedures to prevent, identify and treat digestive health conditions in earlier stages,” Nathan Merriman, MD, senior medical director of the surgical specialties and digestive health clinical program at Intermountain, said in the report. “This comes at a time when we’re seeing more people with chronic digestive health conditions and younger ages of colon cancer across the U.S.”
