Boston, –October 20, – For the fifth straight year, Tufts Medical Center will host See, Test & Treat®, a free cervical and breast cancer screening program, funded through grants from the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation. The event features same-day test results, diagnoses and follow-up care for uninsured and underserved women ages 21 and older. Barbarajean Magnani, PhD, MD, FCAP, Pathologist-in-Chief at Tufts Medical Center, will lead a group of Tufts MC pathologists, OB/GYN doctors, primary care physicians and radiologists in offering this program to the Boston-area community. The event will take place on Saturday, October 25, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm in the OB/GYN clinic on the second floor of Tufts Medical Center’s South Building (860 Washington Street in Boston).
Volunteers from Tufts Medical Center provide free checkups at 2014 August Moon Festival in Boston Chinatown (photo by David Li).
“Traditional screening procedures often require women to visit health care professionals at least twice—once to have an exam and again to receive follow-up care, if needed,” said Dr. Magnani. “A number of factors, including limited access to transportation, cultural and language barriers, lack of child care and inability to take time off from work, may prevent many women from seeking routine care. The goal of the See, Test & Treat program is to eliminate those obstacles to necessary screenings.”
“We are honored to continue this great tradition by hosting the See, Test & Treat program for a fifth consecutive year,” said Laura Baecher-Lind, MD, MPH, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Tufts Medical Center. “The Medical Center always has been committed to giving back to the Chinatown community, which supports us so well. By offering local women these critical exams at no cost, we are doing our part to promote and encourage the health and wellness of our friends and neighbors.”
“Tufts MC Primary Care physicians are excited to be part of this year’s See, Test & Treat program,” said Deborah Blazey-Martin, MD, MPH, Chief of Internal Medicine and Adult Primary Care at Tufts Medical Center. “In addition to assisting with exams, we look forward to providing the participants with important health education tips – the key to staying healthy starts with routine, preventive care.”
Women attending the program will receive pelvic and breast exams, a Pap test and mammograms, if needed, to screen for early signs of cervical and breast cancer. Test results, physician consultations and follow-up care will be provided the same day. All patients will receive their results in a private setting and will be given information about follow-up treatment options, if necessary. Health education will be provided and complimentary food, entertainment, and children’s activities also will be available on site. Each participant will receive a See, Test & Treat t-shirt and Target gift card after receiving their test results.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 245,000 women in the U.S. are expected to receive a diagnosis of breast or cervical cancer in 2014. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology both recommend regular Pap tests for all women who are older than 21 or who are sexually active. In addition, the CAP agrees with the recommendations of the American Cancer Society that all women 40 years and older should have annual mammograms.
Participants are encouraged to register and reserve an appointment slot for the 2014 See, Test & Treat program by calling 617-636-4872. Cantonese and Mandarin language interpreters will be available to assist patients for registration calls and during the event. Walk-ins are also welcome.
About Tufts Medical Center and Floating Hospital for Children
Tufts Medical Center is an exceptional, not-for-profit, 415-bed academic medical center that is home to both a full-service hospital for adults and Floating Hospital for Children. Conveniently located in downtown Boston, the Medical Center is the principal teaching hospital for Tufts University School of Medicine. Floating Hospital for Children is the full-service children’s hospital of Tufts Medical Center and the principal pediatric teaching hospital of Tufts University School of Medicine. Tufts Medical Center is affiliated with the New England Quality Care Alliance, a network of nearly 1,800 physicians throughout Eastern Massachusetts. For more information, please visit www.tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
About the College of American Pathologists
As the leading organization with more than 18,000 board-certified pathologists, the College of American Pathologists (CAP) serves patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering and advocating excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine worldwide. The CAP’s Laboratory Improvement Programs, initiated 65 years ago, currently has customers in more than 100 countries, accrediting 7,600 laboratories and providing proficiency testing to 20,000 laboratories worldwide. Find more information about the CAP at cap.org. Follow CAP on Twitter: @pathologists.
About the CAP Foundation CAP Foundation
The CAP Foundation supports patient-centered and humanitarian roles for pathologists, striving to connect people, especially those in need, to the lifesaving skills of pathologists. The Foundation provides funding for the See, Test & Treat program through the generous support of CAP member pathologists, staff, foundations, industry, and private donations. For more information or to donate, visit foundation.cap.org.
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