CDC, UMMC collaborate to enhance cervical cancer screening

Published on Thursday, February 13, 2025

Dr. Carolann Risley, associate professor of nursing and Cancer Center and Research Institute member, recently delivered a presentation at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Applied Data Science Seminar. Hosted by the Division of Cancer Prevention and Control and National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, the seminar highlighted innovative approaches to addressing disparities in cancer care and advancing support for clinical decision-making technologies.

In 2020, the CDC began collaborative work with the MITRE Corporation and experts to simplify complex cervical cancer screening and management guidelines. Shortly after, the collaboration created easy-to-use clinician tools that work with electronic health records, summarizing patient history and lab results in a clear dashboard to help clinicians follow clinical management guidelines more effectively.

“Cervical cancer screening and management guidelines are inherently complex, making it essential for health care providers to have computer-assisted tools to navigate clinical recommendations effectively,” said Risley.

During her presentation, Risley addressed racial disparities in cervical cancer outcomes in Mississippi and provided an overview of the populations and pilot site locations being evaluated by the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She also emphasized the importance of tailored interventions to address these disparities, particularly in underserved communities.

UMMC and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center recently completed integration of the CDS tools developed by MITRE into UMMC’s electronic health record. Risley credits the UMMC EPIC team and UMMC pathologists for their willingness to use innovation to improve cancer care.  Plans are underway to conduct a broader clinical evaluation of these tools with diverse users at the UMMC pilot site.

“The potential of these tools to improve cervical cancer screening and ensure equitable care is transformative,” said Risley. “By empowering clinicians with precise, evidence-based recommendations, we can significantly reduce barriers to care and improve outcomes for patients at risk of cervical cancer.”