Welcome  to  Public  Health  moment from  the  University  of  Minnesota. Colorectal  cancer  is  the  second  leading  cause of  cancer  related  death  in  the  United  States, yet  national  screening  rates  for the  disease  remain  relatively  low. A  federal  expert  panel recently  recommended  ways  to  increase the  screening  rate  as  a  way  to ultimately  reduce  deaths  from  the  disease. Panel  member,  Beth  Verne, University  of  Minnesota  health  policy  professor  explains. Our  panel  was  concerned  about the  current  rates  of  colorectal  cancer  screening  which are  low  and  are  much  lower  than screening  rates  for  breast  or  cervical  cancer. And  as  well  as  signs  that colorectal  cancer  rates  are  not  declining  and  that  we  are not  catching  a  high  enough  percentage  of cancers  at  the  very  early  stage when  they  are  most  treatable. Current  recommendations  are  for  people  beginning  at age  50  to  have  an  annual  fecal  occult  blood  test, or  a  sigmoidoscopy  every  five  years, combined  with  a  blood  test  every  three  years, or  a  colonoscopy  every  ten  years. Neg  says  this  complexity makes  it  important  for  doctors  and health  providers  to  have a  clear  reminder  system  for  patients. It  is  clear,  particularly  for  tests  such  as  colonoscopy, that  physicians  are  very  important, working  with  physicians  to  have them  or  their  offices  institute  procedures. A  reminder  systems  is  going  to  be  vitally important  for  John  Finnegan  and  public  health  moment. Markina  Branson