Community Outreach
Coalition building and advocacy are vital to a strong outreach program. The Cancer Institute outreach manager serves on the Patient Navigation Network Leadership and Steering Committees of the Maryland Cancer Collaborative, which was established in 2011 as a statewide coalition to implement the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan. The 2016-2020 cancer plan was released in early 2016.
The goals of the Maryland Cancer Collaborative (MCC) are to work with individuals and organizations throughout the state to implement the Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Control Plan and to bring together existing groups and new partners to collaborate on a common goal: to reduce the burden of cancer in Maryland. The top four cancer sites in Maryland are female breast, prostate, lung and bronchus and colon and rectum; these disease sites are the focus of our outreach efforts.
In 2016, the Cancer Institute implemented a new initiative. Nader Hanna, MD, Medical Director of the Cancer Institute, signed an American Cancer Society (ACS) pledge to participate in the National Colorectal Cancer Roundtable Initiative, 80% by 2018, to increase the number of people screened for colon cancer and eliminate disparities in access to care.
To address the Maryland State Cancer Plan goals and to continue to honor the ACS pledge, the UM SJMC Cancer Institute coordinated the second Wellness Wise Colorectal Cancer Screening Program for employees and family members in March 2017. This program helps reduce barriers to being screened for colorectal cancer by opening the Digestive Disease Center on Saturdays. Thirty-two employees and their family members participated, which was an 18% increase in participation over 2016. Additionally, in November 2017, the Cancer Institute launched a colon cancer online risk assessment called Colon Aware to educate the community and help measure the impact of UM SJMC Cancer Institute outreach efforts.
In 2016, UM SJMC undertook a comprehensive community health needs assessment (CHNA) to evaluate the health needs of individuals living in Baltimore County, Maryland. The aim of the assessment is to reinforce UM SJMC's commitment to the health of residents and align its health prevention efforts with the community's greatest needs. Cancer was ranked second in the top ten most pressing health issues. In reference to resources most needed in the community, free/low cost medical care, health education and health screenings ranked in the top ten.
In alignment with the 2016 community needs assessment, cancer prevention, education and early detection continue to be the primary focus for outreach at the Cancer Institute, which sponsored or participated in numerous educational programs for the community throughout the year.
Highlights included the 6th Annual Women's Health Conference held at UM SJMC in May 2017 with over 75 women in attendance. The Cancer Institute offered three six-week smoking cessation class sessions at UM SJMC sponsored by Baltimore County Health Department, in which 33 community members participated and 13, or 33% of those who participated, quit smoking.
Screenings are a joint effort between UM SJMC's Community Health Department, the Cancer Institute, the Breast Center, Advanced Radiology and numerous health care providers who donate their time and expertise.
In accordance with the Commission on Cancer (CoC) requirements, all prevention and screening programs are based on a community needs assessment and are consistent with evidence-based national guidelines. Persons with positive findings are referred to resources within the community and/or to UM SJMC for follow-up care under our charity care program. Four community cancer screenings, as well as 12 monthly breast cancer screenings for the uninsured were provided in 2017, serving a total of 231 community members — 100% of those screened through the One Voice program were uninsured, thus serving an unmet need in our community.
Learn more about our cancer screenings.
More Information
Review these publications for more information on our plans to prevent and treat cancer in the community: