As of December 2, 2019, at 9:30am, the Columbus Cancer Clinic provided 2,000 mammograms, surpassing all previously set records for the Clinic in mammography!
The Columbus Cancer Clinic is a Medicare and Medicaid certified clinic that provides cancer prevention and education through head-to-toe cancer screenings and breast imaging services that include screening/diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasounds, and breast biopsies. The program assists individuals in central Ohio through its outreach and education efforts. Fifty-seven percent (57%) of clients who visited last year had no insurance coverage. In 2018, the screening program 1,215 mammograms, diagnostic, and biopsies and provided 643 cancer screenings. Eighty-eight (88%) of clients are under the age of 50 while 97% are women and 3% are men.
The Columbus Cancer Clinic also provides a Home Care Support program to clients in active treatment for cancer who reside in Franklin County and live below 150% of the Federal Poverty guidelines. These services include assistance with medical supplies and equipment, medication, transportation to and from cancer-related medical appointments, groceries, wigs and breast prostheses, nutritonal supplements, and housing assitance in emergencies, often keeping clients out of homelessness. In 2018, the Home Care Support program served 747 clients. Seventy-three (73%) of clients are above age 50 while 55% are female and 45% are male. The Columbus Cancer Clinic began in 1921 and is the oldest freestanding cancer clinic in the United States. The Agency merged with LifeCare Alliance in 2005.
Thanks in large part to the funding the Columbus Cancer Clinic receives from Susan G. Komen Columbus, the clinic has the resources to help women navigate the often complicated system of care to access life-saving mammograms and early detection.
The Columbus Cancer Clinic stands apart from other community programs in its ability to eliminate the unique and varied barriers to breast health services faced by at-risk women during the continuum of care navigation. The ability to provide diagnostic on-site after receiving their screening mammogram is a tremendous barrier reduction because women do not have to be referred to another facility. Avoiding a referral to an outside location ensures women feel comfortable and have a positive experience during a time that be overwhelming.
Doing everything possible to remove the barriers women face, such as financial, linguistic, or transportation, the Columbus Cancer Clinic meets clients where they are. Clients also often face educational barriers about how to use newly obtained insurance coverage and how to navigate through the health care system. A quality navigation program like the Columbus Cancer Clinic has in place helps all patients have improved outcomes to reduce health disparities.
If you or someone you love needs services, call (614) 263-5006 to book an appointment.
