MA health center offers cervical cancer screening, preventive care services

Mashpee, MA

Community Health Center of Cape Cod is now enrolling eligible patients into a new program that emphasizes prevention, early detection and screening services for certain types of cancer, including breast, cervical, prostate, and colorectal, as well as heart disease and stroke.

The new Care Coordination program serves women and men who typically are unable to access such services because of insurance limitations and who are most likely to be at risk for disease due to age or a previous abnormal finding.

“These services are in keeping with our “complete medical home” approach to care,” said Chief Executive Officer Karen Gardner.

As a primary care provider, the Health Center works with patients to make sure they are compliant with age-appropriate prevention and screening tools. “These services will be integrated with their ongoing health care management,” Gardner said.

Early detection has shown to be a determining factor in successfully treating these diseases, according to Lisa Taylor, MD, an internist at the Health Center.

“There are relatively simple screening tests that can alert us to a potential problem. When dealt with early on, it can make a big difference in a patient’s overall health and well-being,” she said.

Women enrolled in the program may receive a clinical breast exam and mammogram, pelvic exam and PAP test, and colonoscopy. Men may receive a rectal exam and prostate specific antigen test (PSA) and colonoscopy. All participants receive risk reduction education, lifestyle intervention and preventive services for heart disease and stroke. Case management and patient navigation services are available to help link enrollees to services, identify payment mechanisms and guide them through the healthcare system.

The Health Center’s eligible patients include Massachusetts residents between the ages of 40 and 64. Patients between the ages of 20 and 39 or over 64 who have had an abnormal finding may also be eligible. Eligibility requirements vary according to individuals’ age, insurance and income level.

The Care Coordination program is funded by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH). It is a restructuring of the former Women’s Health Network and Men’s Health Partnership, which was suspended by the DPH in June 2008.

Recognizing the ability of community health centers to deliver comprehensive care, the Department asked the Health Center to implement the Care Coordination program and incorporate this model of care with their delivery of primary care.

Care Coordination services are currently available for eligible patients of the Health Center. Those without insurance or a primary care provider can become a patient of the Health Center. Plans are underway to make the services available across Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard through the community health center network and other participating providers.

For more information about the Care Coordination program, call 508 477-7090, ext. 158 or 159.

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