Komen continues partnership with Houston Healthcare

Special to the Journal

One of the four priority areas for Houston Healthcare’s

Community Benefit Plan is to improve the ease of access to healthcare. This is

done by addressing possible barriers such as lack of insurance or financial

ability to pay as well as assisting persons in understanding or navigating the

health care system. A great example of improving access to care is the

partnership between Houston Healthcare and the Central Georgia Affiliate of

Susan G. Komen. This partnership has been in place since 2005 with Komen providing

annual grant funding for projects designed by Houston Healthcare to improve

access to breast health services.

The goal is to identify breast cancer early when it is the

most treatable. The barriers identified in the 2011 Komen Central Georgia Profile

confirm the challenges identified by our staff which include: (1) a lack of

education on the need for breast health services, (2) a lack of finances to pay

for a mammogram, (3) a lack of ability to navigate the healthcare system, and

(4) apprehension over having a mammogram and what the screening may reveal. All

of this leads to decreased access to appropriate care. HRSA in the Women’s

Health USA 2010 shares “Cancer survival rates vary depending on how early the

cancer is discovered”. This once again demonstrates the importance of

mammograms.

The Purpose of the partnership is to provide mammograms for

lower income, uninsured women. The target group includes women who – without

this assistance – are unable to afford a mammogram and navigate the health care

system. To qualify the woman must be uninsured and 200% of the poverty level. A

process is in place which begins with a referral to Community Education. Most

referrals come directly from physician offices or from the Houston County

Volunteer Medical Clinic. A Nurse Navigator is in place to coordinate the

activities related to education, and obtaining a voucher for a mammogram. She

works closely with Radiology in scheduling the screening and follows up as

needed.

Women who have an abnormal mammogram receive counseling and assistance

from the Nurse Navigator. The evaluation method includes tracking the number of

women receiving education on the importance of mammogram, as well as number of

women receiving a mammogram, and the number of abnormal mammograms. The impact

of the program reaches throughout Central Georgia providing education,

mammograms as well as a Nurse Navigator. Last year 129 women were assisted.

Houston Healthcare recently received additional funding from

Susan G. Komen, Central Georgia. We appreciate Komen’s partnership, as well as

all the staff in Community Education, Radiology, Accounting, Volunteer Medical

Clinic and Physicians’ Office Staff who all work to make the process flow

smoothly.

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