
Dr. Donna J. Twist, PhD, VP Development/Executive Director and Sally Cascella, RN, Senior Nurse Educator
The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center
Pathways to Screening
Awarded $25,000
About this Project:
The Norma F. Pfriem Breast Care Center’s Pathways to Screening helps medically underserved women overcome barriers to breast cancer screening by navigating women through the entire appointment process, from the community-based outreach program or health clinic where they first make their appointment to the appointment itself and any follow up services. A bilingual patient navigator will follow women, confirming appointments, answering questions and addressing barriers to screening, such as transportation, financial and personal issues, and will be available the day of the appointment when women meet with a Nurse Navigator.
The program overcomes some of the persistent barriers to navigation through the provision of the following services:
- Personal assistance and strategic case management from community to clinic to women who need help accessing health services. Women are navigated throughout the entire process, including the financial aspects of their care.
- Continuity of care and coordination of services.
- Financial assistance for clinical breast exams, mammograms and ultrasounds
- Outreach designed to reach women who are high risk, who may never have had a mammogram or do not routinely get breast screening
- A center of reference for questions and management of care.
- Streamlined and timely access to advanced services.
The study will compare rates of compliance of women who come through the Pathways to Screening program vs. those without the same level of navigation. The study will take place in Greater Bridgeport, a low income community with breast cancer mortality and incidence rates among the highest in the state; screening rates are also low.