PI: Cervical Cancer Screenings

Outcome: We reached our goal of screening 60% of our eligible clients. Overall we improved by 30% in one year!

Why are we interested in cervical cancer screenings? Cervical cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer-based death for female bodied people in the United States, but it is also the most preventable gynecological cancer because of screenings like these. Because we know that preventative care is the best care we can provide, we are committed to doing everything we can to screen as many clients as possible for cervical cancer. 

What did we do to reach this goal? 

• Providers encouraged clients to get regular pap smear tests for early detection. Pap smears are quick and easy, but many clients are uncomfortable with getting one on the spot, so the team considered ways to make the experience better in order to overcome these hesitancies.
• The Medical team at Fallsway launched a Preventive Health Tracker to allow for real-time notification of when a client is overdue for cervical cancer screening.
• We are launching a “Screen or Schedule” campaign which will encourage medical providers to get all clients either screened same day or scheduled for a follow up visit.
• Our mobile clinic will be developing an intake system that supports prompting team members to offer screenings.

The latest:

• We are providing blankets and sanitary wipes to our providers, so that our clients can feel clean and warm during the experience.
• We are reviewing practices among providers, to ensure that they all regularly encouraging at-risk clients to consider a pap smear.
• We have been including reminders in our electronic medical records to remind providers when a client is due for a PAP.
• We are offering clients the option to schedule a follow up visit if they do not want to have a PAP done at the current visit, which has resulted in 75% of clients who originally declined instead returning in 1-3 weeks.

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