The Inova Saville Cancer Screening and Prevention Center has launched a new bus that brings vital cancer screenings straight to patients.
This new mobile screening facility aims to eliminate some of the barriers that prevent people from seeking preventive care and screenings, such as time constraints and financial concerns.
“The whole mission behind Saville, when it opened, was to make sure that our resources are open to our entire community,” said Elizabeth Stark, manager of outreach and education at Inova Saville. “This is just kind of us living out that mission to make sure that insurance status, transportation … whatever those barriers are, aren’t getting in the way of people taking care of themselves,” adding that the bus will offer weekend hours.
The bus has three main sections: a mammography machine, a phlebotomy (blood work) area, and an exam room. The exam room is “really meant to be responsive to the needs of community,” Stark says, so it can be used for pap smears, skin checks, and more.
Inova partners with community organizations to book and fill the mobile clinic.
“This is not something where we’re ever just going to show up on a street corner and say, ‘Get on the bus,’ in part because our big dedication is making sure that we can follow patients through the entire continuum of care,” Stark says.
If a screening performed on the bus shows something abnormal, the team needs to be able to get in contact with the patient and help them take the next necessary steps.
The mobile screening clinic first launched in January, with a series of mammography screenings for Inova health care workers. The first community screening was in early February at Neighborhood Health in Alexandria.
In the beginning, Inova is aiming for about two community events per week, which could increase to as many as four per week within a year. At each event, it can accommodate about 15 mammograms per day.
For patients who have insurance, payment for these services will work much like it would at a hospital or other medical center. “And it’s important to know that most screenings, most routine screenings, are covered by your insurance without cost sharing,” Stark says.
For those without insurance, the mobile screening facility has financial assistance available, funded through philanthropic support and grants.
Those who are interested in taking advantage of the bus’ resources or hosting a screening event can connect with a community health worker by reaching out to [email protected].
Feature image courtesy Inova
