Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center Foundation has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. The award will fund screening and diagnostic services for minority individuals who are underinsured and/or uninsured in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties.
“Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center and Novant Health Cancer Institute, along with our patients, appreciate the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s generous ongoing support, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Saad Ehtisham, president of Presbyterian Medical Center and the Novant Health greater Charlotte market. “More patients than ever have limited financial resources or lack health insurance because of pandemic-related job closures. This year, the National Breast Cancer Foundation funding will provide 33 screening mammograms with one-on-one breast health education and 15 diagnostic procedures.”
Thanks to Novant Health’s partnership with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Novant Health has provided thousands of Mecklenburg County’s most vulnerable residents with no-cost mammography screenings and diagnostic services to prevent late-stage breast cancer diagnoses. The need remains great, and the waiting list for breast screening and diagnostic services is long. Collaborative efforts between Novant Health cancer, prevention and early detection team members, led by Maria Kuklinski-Long, and local free clinics in targeted communities have yielded positive results in addressing disparities and increasing access to quality breast health care.
Underinsured and/or uninsured minority populations in Mecklenburg and surrounding counties encounter many obstacles to breast health care, including transportation, language and financial barriers. The cancer prevention, education and early detection team provides no-cost screenings and bilingual education on two mobile units and refers individuals in need of diagnostic services to conveniently located imaging centers. The team prioritizes underinsured and uninsured individuals for breast screening and diagnostic services to ensure no individual delays services based on ability to pay.
“We are proud to partner with Novant Health,” said Douglas Feil, chief program officer for the National Breast Cancer Foundation. “Novant Health was a stabilizing force during the pandemic, and they continue that work by ensuring the communities they serve have accessible, high-quality screening and breast care.”
National Breast Cancer Foundation funding enables Novant Health to provide 3D mammograms, breast health education, diagnostic mammograms, ultrasounds, biopsies and patient navigation. Team members target low-income minority populations that are underinsured and/or uninsured to provide them with grant-funded services to improve access to care and reduce breast cancer mortality. Since 2008, the National Breast Cancer Foundation funding has supported 1,087 screening mammograms and accompanying one-on-one, evidence-based breast health education sessions and 1,037 diagnostic services.
The cancer prevention, education and early detection team provides coordination of screening and diagnostic services for uninsured and/or underserved residents in the greater Charlotte area. As part of recommended guidance from the community guide of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast health educator Willie Adams provides evidence-based, one-on-one breast health education as a model of choice to reduce late-stage breast cancer diagnoses.
“Patients are required to complete pre-screening and post-screening assessments after breast health education to measure education retention,” Adams explained. “Currently, more than 98% of patients accurately answer the post-screening assessment, indicating they understand breast health education and the importance of annual breast screenings as a preventive tool in the fight against late-stage breast cancer.”
For more information about Novant Health cancer prevention and early detection programs, visit NovantHealth.org.
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