For the 17th consecutive year, Christiana Care Health System received a $25,000 grant from Susan G. Komen Philadelphia to fund its Pink Ribbon Program, a free service pairing patients with bilingual navigators to improve access to mammography screenings.
The program, which is run by Christiana Care’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, uses outreach navigators and partner agencies to assist individuals to schedule mammogram appointments, provide breast health education, find transportation and help find funding sources to cover the cost of the mammogram. The navigators also educate the community about breast health, cancer prevention, and early detection.
The Pink Ribbon Program also provides funds for screening mammograms for those who are eligible.
The program helps to increase women’s access to screening mammograms by eliminating barriers. For example, Christiana Care arranges block-time screenings with women’s groups, including added support and interpreters when needed. In addition, special screening times are available on the second Tuesday and third Thursday of each month at Christiana Care’s Wilmington Hospital and through special weekend events.
“Through the Pink Ribbon program and coordination with our community partners, our goal is to continue to reach women who lack resources and assist them with completing their annual breast screening,” said Nora Katurakes, RN, MSN, OCN, manager of Community Health Outreach and Education at the Graham Cancer Center. “Our special weekend screening events in addition to our blocked scheduling time at Wilmington Hospital provide unique access.”
