NEW HYDE PARK, NY (June 3, 2014) – NEW HYDE PARK, NY – The North Shore-LIJ Health System announced today that it has received a $74,840 grant from the Greater New York City Affiliate of Susan G. Komen® to offer outreach and patient navigation services through its Cancer Community Connection Program.
The breast cancer screening program at LIJ Medical Center in New Hyde Park, N.Y., offers a variety of free cancer screenings for underserved and inadequately insured women. These screenings are funded by the New York State Department of Health Cancer Services Program.
This is the third consecutive year that Komen Greater NYC has funded the Cancer Community Connection Program, and it brings their total support to more than $238,000 for community outreach and education and patient navigation services that promote breast health, regular breast cancer screening, and early detection.
With funding from the New York State Department of Health Cancer Services Program, clinicians at LIJ Medical Center’s Ambulatory Care Unit & the Mitchell A. Goldman, MD Diagnostic Imaging Center in New Hyde Park provide free state-of-the-art 3D mammograms to the uninsured. The program also offers free pelvic exams, pap smears and colon cancer screenings by clinicians, ensuring a seamless connection to other preventive and diagnostic services.
“Having regular breast, cervical and colon cancer screening tests increases the chance of detecting these diseases early, when they are most likely to be curable,” said Jill Maura Rabin, MD, chief of the Division of Ambulatory Care and head of urogynecology at LIJ Medical Center.
Studies show that health disparities are particularly pronounced among African-American women, who are diagnosed at later stages and consequently face higher breast cancer mortality rates. Hispanic, Asian, undocumented, uninsured and young women also have considerably lower screening rates than the general population.
Komen Greater NYC supports a comprehensive breast cancer services that include outreach, education services and patient navigation to underserved women.
“Continued funding support from Komen Greater NYC ensures that LIJ Medical Center will make a significant difference in the community,” said Ann Stephens, the program’s Outreach Coordinator at LIJ Medical Center. In addition to education and outreach, the program will identify and eliminate each woman's barriers to care. All incoming patients are guided through the entire continuum of care, from screening to diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up.
“Since the support of the Komen Greater NYC funding in 2011, patient volume has more than tripled and more than 20 community-based partnerships have been formed, greatly increasing the program’s impact,” noted Kaitlin Doyle, MSPH, Women’s Health Coordinator at LIJ Medical Center.
To make an appointment for a cancer screening, please call the LIJ Medical Center Ambulatory Care Unit at 718-470-4165.