Erie County Medical Center – Mobile Mammography Coach

What is it?

Through its community-based approach, the Mobile Mammography Coach increases mammography outreach, education and screening among women in the identified areas. Project objectives are accomplished by Mobile Mammography Coach partners in collaboration with medical clinics and agencies in the target counties – housing facilities, senior centers, community centers and churches, including sites on Indian reservations. The program provides community-based direct education, clinical and community health patient navigation and services, including clinical breast exams and mammography; reports abnormal mammography results for women in need; provides transportation to education sessions, mammogram and diagnostic screening, and high-risk assessments as needed; and offers cultural patient navigation and interpreter services for women facing language barriers when scheduled for further diagnostic testing.

Who is it for?

At-risk and underserved women in the four counties selected as target communities in the Susan G. Komen Western New York (WNY) Affiliate’s 2015 Community Profile Report and recognized as areas with significant gaps in breast cancer services and access to care.

Why do they do it?

The New York State Department of Health identifies WNY as the region having the highest rate of newly diagnosed breast cancer in Upstate New York. Annual breast cancer mortality rates (deaths per 100,000 people) from the 2015 Susan G. Komen WNY Community Profile Report indicate that four WNY counties are among those with the highest rates in New York State: Erie (27), Wyoming (24.7), Allegany (22.3) and Cattaraugus (22). Barriers exist in WNY for women’s health screening and vary significantly by type of insurance. More than 54 percent of women on Medicaid had not been screened for breast cancer. Those without insurance were even worse off – 71 percent had never had a mammogram.

Impact

Since its inception in July 2012, the Mobile Mammography Coach has provided more than 10,000 women with annual screening mammograms, many of whom are either uninsured or underinsured. Nearly 1,000 women were flagged for more specific secondary exams. Forty-six women have been identified whose clinical breast exam has revealed the need for further diagnostic evaluation, and 21 women have been found to have a positive breast cancer diagnosis.

Contact: Karen Ziemianski
Senior Vice President, Nursing
Telephone: 716-898-3623
Email: kziemian@ecmc.edu