(Community Matters) The EF Breast Cancer Services group conveened a meeting this morning for parties interested in patient mapping. St. David’s Community Health Foundation hosted the group and its CEO, Earl Maxwell, was kind enough to welcome the group and update us on the foundation. I found it interesting to learn that the annual profits from St. David’s Hospitals to the foundation now total $20 million/year, $17.5mm which the foundation distributes each year.
Their primary program is free dental care for children attending Title I schools. Last year they examined over 30,000 mouths. And, they make substantial, competitive grants in four general areas: 1) primary healthcare, 2) mental health services (including in primary & secondary schools), 3) programs for the aging and 4) other special projects. Additionally, they are evaluating the possibility for a new initiative case managing uninsured patients released from their hospitals.
Very interesting conversation about what breast cancer patient data exists. The Cancer Registry is organized to provide research quality data, thus is usually two years old before finalized and published. We need rapid response ascertainment in our community to drive asset and program deployment decisions.
Also, some discussion re: funding for breast cancer services is nearly all (as in 90%+) targeted to low income clients – Komen’s grants, St. David’s grants, Shivers, etc. We need funding for services for all women with breast cancer – low income, middle income and even affluent. Especially acute are problems and services for the working poor.
Community Matters 