NORTHFIELD, Ill.—The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionally impact at-risk communities across the U.S. where economic and other barriers to health care provide an increase in the occurrence of preventable disease. That is why it is increasingly important that the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Foundation’s See, Test & Treat pathologist-led initiative continues to deliver free cervical and breast cancer screening to medically underserved people who face language, cultural, financial, and transportation barriers to health care.
For the program’s 10th anniversary, the CAP Foundation, in partnership with health care providers across the country, has announced 14 See, Test & Treat events in 2021. Program organizers estimate the events, in total, will serve over 1,000 patients.
Not only do these programs connect patients with their local health services, but they create an educational space where pathologists and patients have more direct interaction, demystifying the laboratory testing process, according to Carey Z. August, MD, FCAP, president of the CAP Foundation.
“As the doctors who run medical laboratories, pathologists have been on the forefront of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. August said. She explained, pathologists have led COVID-19 testing efforts, but these physicians are also the specialists responsible for diagnosing cancer.
“COVID-19 testing has been in the headlines over the past year, but doctors everywhere are also concerned about unchecked, preventable diseases as many people may have delayed regular checkups and screenings.”
According to a study shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates for cervical cancer screening dropped by approximately 80% in some parts of the U.S. during the height of the pandemic.
Maryrose Murphy, executive director of the CAP Foundation, said See, Test & Treat can help provide some relief to patients in need during difficult times.
“Some of these patients may have missed last year’s mammogram or Pap test, but some may have never had access to proper screening—we’re proud that See, Test & Treat can bring pathologists, clinicians, and volunteers together to help change that,” Murphy said.
Pathologists who led See, Test & Treat events in 2020 said the program had a significant impact on both patients and providers and look forward to hosting patients again in 2021.
“The See, Test, & Treat program makes it possible for pathologists to educate program attendees by interpreting test results and explaining pathologists’ role in the patient treatment process,” said Laura Jimenez-Quintero, MD, FCAP, medical director and CEO of Precise Pathology Associates, who leads See, Test & Treat in Liberty, Texas.
“Further, through the program, pathologists encourage women to take action in promoting the criticality of routine preventative screenings and healthy lifestyle habits,” Dr. Jimenez-Quintero added.
Rebecca A. Osgood, MD, FCAP, chief of pathology at Cambridge Health Alliance and clinical associate in pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital, received positive feedback from patients and clinical partners after their 2020 See, Test & Treat in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and predicts another successful event in October 2021.
Dr. Osgood said, “Our volunteers state over and over that they love this event, and it fulfills the reasons many went into health care—to help people, especially those in need.”
2021 CAP Foundation See, Test & Treat Schedule:
- Montefiore Medical Center; Bronx, New York; May 15, 2021
- IU School of Medicine/Gennesaret Clinic; Indianapolis, Indiana; June 14, 2021
- University of Mississippi Medical Center; Jackson, Mississippi; August 21, 2021
- Loyola University Medical Center; Maywood, Illinois; September 18, 2021
- UT Southwestern/Moncrief Cancer Institute; Fort Worth, Texas; September 2021 (Exact date to be determined.)
- North Country Healthcare; Flagstaff, Arizona; September 18, 2021
- Charles Drew Health Center; Omaha, Nebraska; September 18, 2021
- Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; Newark, New Jersey; October 2, 2021
- Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; New Brunswick, New Jersey; October 2, 2021
- White Plains Hospital; White Plains, New York; October 2, 2021
- NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota; October 2, 2021
- Liberty-Dayton Regional Medical Center; Liberty, Texas; October 9, 2021
- Hampton Roads Community Health Center; Hampton Roads, Virginia; October 16, 2021
- Cambridge Health Alliance; Cambridge, Massachusetts; October 22, 2021
For further information on individual events, please contact capfnd@cap.org.
About the CAP Foundation
The CAP Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the College of American Pathologists, supports patient-centered and humanitarian initiatives led by pathologists, striving to connect people in underserved communities with the specialized skills of pathologists. CAP Foundation funding for See, Test & Treat is made possible through the continued generous support of CAP member pathologists, staff, foundations, industry, and private donations. Learn more and donate: foundation.cap.org. Contact the CAP Foundation at capfnd@cap.org and follow on Twitter at @capfndn.