On December 5, 2008, the University of Virginia Health System and The Health Wagon teamed up to provide state-of-the-art breast health screenings in Clinchco to women in far Southwest Virginia who are uninsured or have no mammography services nearby.  This was the first quarterly planned clinic by the two organizations, which are collaborating to reduce the region's above-average rate of breast cancer mortality.  The clinic provided digital mammograms to 47 women.  Twelve attendees - more than 25 percent and nearly four times the national average - had potential abnormalities that required further evaluation.

"One patient learned that she has an early stage of breast cancer and is beginning treatment.  Another is awaiting further testing.  The rest found out their conditions are not cancerous," reports Teresa Gardner, NP, Executive Director of The Health Wagon.  She believes the first round of results confirms the value of and need for screening and early detection.

Removing geographic and financial barriers to care is an important aspect of the collaboration between UVA and The Health Wagon.  In addition to sending its top-notch mobile mammography van and team to Clinchco, the UVA Health System is using special funding from the state and other sources to cover the cost of screening women without insurance.  When those who are uninsured need follow-up care, The Health Wagon is stepping in to erase remaining financial hurdles.

The breast health collaboration with The Health Wagon is part of UVA's multi-faceted initiative to create sustainable health care solutions for uninsured and medically underserved residents of far southwest Virginia.

The next mammography clinic is scheduled for December 17 & 18 2009, please contact the Health Wagon office at (276) 835-9474 for more information.