The SCOOP program team is based at FCIC and includes the nurse coordinators (Kalindra Simpson, Michelle Coats, Denise Galley, Sheryl Rochford), the administration team (Gretchen Jean, Olivia Gallio) and the Bowel Health Service that conducts the research associated with the program (Erin Symonds, Dawn Bastin, Sue Wick, Janet Hardwicke).

There have been over 30,000 patients in this program. The SCOOP program, through the use of nurse coordinators, ensures that patients are provided with appropriate recommendations for how often colonoscopies should be performed.

If someone has been deemed to be at increased risk for bowel cancer by their doctor, usually due to having had polyps (adenomas) found, or having a significant family history of bowel cancer, then screening is done through regular surveillance colonoscopies, coordinated through the SCOOP program.

Recently published in the Medical Journal of Australia, Erin Symonds and team show that the use of nurse coordinators in the SCOOP program has resulted in long term compliance with surveillance recommendations to match Australian guidelines.

The SCOOP audit showed that 97.1% of patients were given appropriate recommendations. Without the program in place it has been shown that as many as 89% of patients receive inappropriate surveillance, usually a colonoscopy before the recommended date. This results in unnecessary costs and risks to patients through having additional procedures, and lengthens waiting lists for colonoscopies. Long term outcomes from the SCOOP program also showed a marked decrease in the number of cancers diagnosed.

For further information regarding SCOOP program phone: 8204 8902