Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Coalition

Annual Report

Summary

July 2003 – March 2004

History

In January 2002, a grant was awarded to the Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Coalition to provide breast and cervical cancer education, screenings and outreach.  The counties targeted by this grant included:  Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Hart, Rabun, Stephens and White.  Founding members of the coalition were Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Stephens County Hospital, Health District 2 and (2) representatives from the American Cancer Society. 

Understanding that reaching out to the communities was vital to the success of the project, it was determined that the coalition needed to be more representative of the counties that were being targeted.  In April and May, 2002, several new coalition members were recruited.  These new members included:  BJC Medical Center, Cobb Memorial Hospital, Hart County Hospital, Rabun County Hospital and an additional American Cancer Society Representative.  Now each county targeted by the grant had a representative in the coalition.

The initial goal set forth was to develop an Online Regional Resource Guide that would catalog organizations, facilities and services that address breast and cervical health needs.  This goal was accomplished and the Online Resource Guide went Live at www.northeastgeorgiaccc.com in August 2002.

Other goals of the Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Coalition included education, awareness and screening, development and fostering of community relationships, and locating and identifying women in need of services.  Further, it was important to the Coalition and it’s staff to facilitate changes that would be sustainable after the grant had ended.

Throughout the past 2 years, with the assistance of our coalition members, advisory board and volunteers, we have met and overcome many challenges, achieved the goals of our coalition, and have provided services to many women.   

July 2003-March 2004

Online Resource Guide

As noted earlier, the Online Resource Guide went live in August of 2002.  Since that time, the guide has been updated (4) times.  The information was most recently updated April, 2004.  I hope each of you have had a chance to review the website, your listing and the Resource Guide.

Given that the grant is coming to a close and no staff would be available to maintain the guide or website, we will be merging our website with that of the Georgia Mountain Cancer Coalition effective April 30, 2004.  The Resource Guide will be moved in its’ entirety, along with pertinent information about the Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Coalition.  There will also be information available about the BreasTest and More program offered through the local health departments. 

For the next six months, anyone signing onto www.northeastgeorgia.ccc.com  will automatically be transferred to the new website.  As most of you know, the Georgia Mountain Coalition website address is www.georgiamountaincc.com .  Your new contact person for any changes, additions, etc. to your listing (or if you know of another listing that should be added) will be Julie Edwards, Public Relations, Northeast Georgia Medical Center, 770-531-3840.

Awareness, Education and Screening

A major goal of the Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Coalition was to increase public awareness and education about breast and cervical cancer, screening guidelines, and resources available in our seven county region.  This goal was accomplished through a number of avenues including the Online Resource Guide, educational meetings, seminars, radio broadcasts, Health Fairs, etc. 

By working together with our coalition members, churches, civic groups, volunteers and others, we were able to either host and/or participate in a number of events where women were educated about breast and cervical cancer and made aware of the resources available in their area. 

In addition to awareness and education, we were charged with the goal of finding and identifying women in need of cancer screenings.  We accomplished this goal through the same mechanisms as listed above (ie. educational meetings, one-on-one interactions, seminars etc.). 

The media (radio, newspaper, TV) played a vital role in reaching these women.  Through the media outlet alone, we received over 100 calls and were able to provide screenings for 54 women.  All other callers were provided an appropriateThe media (radio, newspaper, TV) played a vital role in reaching these women.  Through the media outlet alone, we received over 100 calls and were able to provide screenings for 54 women.  All other callers were provided an appropriate referral, (ex. other Health Department Programs, Private Physicians, etc.).  Overall, we have received over 260 calls, providing screenings for many and appropriate referral sources for all others.  See Table 1

We have also distributed numerous public relations materials throughout the communities which included information about the grant and website and  educational pamphlets reporting screening guidelines, risk factors, general information about cancer, etc.   Most recently, a heavy emphasis was placed on  information about the BreasTest and More program offered through the local health departments.  This program will continue to provide low or no cost screenings to those women without insurance who are between the age of 40-64 and meet financial eligibility criteria. 

TABLE 1

  Sustainability

One of the most important outcomes of any short- term program is the long- term impact.  This was probably one of our most challenging goals. Although we felt

that the impact of the education and awareness would continue long after we were gone, it was important for us to leave behind something “solid”, something that others could see and know that it was in place because of the Rural Grant project. 

Given that we wanted to impact our communities, we sought advice and suggestions from representatives of the counties included in the grant.    We were given various suggestions and discussed the feasibility of each.  When all was said and done, we implemented three of the recommendations.  Given that we had already created an Online Resource Guide that will continue to be maintained, we end the grant with four long-term impact goals in place.

1. The Online Resource Guide that will serve as a continued resource for all seven of the grant counties.

2. (2) exam tables designed to meet the needs of our handicapped population.  These tables were placed (1) in White County and (1) in Stephens County since these were the counties most central to all seven of the counties represented by the grant.

3. Routine/scheduled visits by the mobile mammography van to White County (2) times monthly (this county has no mammography facility) and routine/scheduled visits to Dawson County (1) time monthly (just recently got an accredited mammography facility).  This schedule will be monitored by Sherrie Kinney, who oversees the mobile mammography van.  She will make changes as needed.

4. Teaching Breast Models were provided to all seven county Health Departments to assist them in providing breast self-exam education to their patients, as well as providing breast cancer education at public forums such as Health Fairs, Cancer Day, etc.

These sustainable goals will continue to provide for education in our communities, provide easier access to services, make services more accessible to our handicapped population and continue to provide information regarding the resources for breast and cervical cancer in our seven county region. 

Overall, we have had a very successful three quarters and would like to thank each of you for the role that you played in the success of the Rural Project and the Northeast Georgia Cancer Care Coalition.  I hope that each of you will continue to be an active member of the Georgia Mountain Cancer Coalition.  There is still much to be accomplished and it will take each person doing their part to make it happen.