1
00:00:07,600 --> 00:00:11,880
Speaker 1: From WBZ News Radio in Boston. This is New England Weekend.

2
00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:14,360
Speaker 1: We're each and every week right here, we come together,

3
00:00:14,680 --> 00:00:17,040
Speaker 1: we talk about all the topics important to you and

4
00:00:17,120 --> 00:00:19,080
Speaker 1: the place where you live. Great to have you back

5
00:00:19,079 --> 00:00:21,960
Speaker 1: with us this week. I'm Nicole Davis. So when you're

6
00:00:22,000 --> 00:00:23,720
Speaker 1: a woman of a certain age and you're getting your

7
00:00:23,720 --> 00:00:26,120
Speaker 1: physical done, eventually you're going to get to the point

8
00:00:26,120 --> 00:00:28,640
Speaker 1: where your doctor will sit down and say, let's talk

9
00:00:28,640 --> 00:00:31,680
Speaker 1: about mammograms. And you might panic a little bit, because yes,

10
00:00:31,760 --> 00:00:34,159
Speaker 1: they can be uncomfortable, and everybody's got some kind of

11
00:00:34,159 --> 00:00:37,800
Speaker 1: a horror story. But medical experts maintain these scans are

12
00:00:37,840 --> 00:00:40,680
Speaker 1: the best way to track down any potential cancer as

13
00:00:40,720 --> 00:00:43,640
Speaker 1: early as possible. Now, we're advised after we start getting

14
00:00:43,640 --> 00:00:46,880
Speaker 1: these mammograms to get them through most of our adult lives. However,

15
00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:49,960
Speaker 1: CDC data shows one out of every four women ages

16
00:00:50,040 --> 00:00:52,559
Speaker 1: fifty through seventy four haven't had a scan in at

17
00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:54,840
Speaker 1: least a couple of years. As for those of us

18
00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,600
Speaker 1: women in our forties, it's even worse, as only about

19
00:00:57,640 --> 00:00:59,520
Speaker 1: half of us are getting ours done in any kind

20
00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:02,120
Speaker 1: of timely. There are plenty of factors at play. If

21
00:01:02,120 --> 00:01:04,160
Speaker 1: you're younger, you might not think you need it. You

22
00:01:04,240 --> 00:01:06,520
Speaker 1: might be worried about the pain or discomfort. You might

23
00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:09,840
Speaker 1: be scared about any result. Logistical issues are a problem,

24
00:01:09,959 --> 00:01:13,040
Speaker 1: even the cost if you're under insured. In Greater Boston, though,

25
00:01:13,040 --> 00:01:16,039
Speaker 1: that is where the Dana Farber Cancer Institute Mimography Van

26
00:01:16,120 --> 00:01:18,640
Speaker 1: comes in. This team running this van is out there

27
00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,679
Speaker 1: year round. They make their way all over the region

28
00:01:20,800 --> 00:01:23,080
Speaker 1: making sure anybody who needs a scan can get it,

29
00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,280
Speaker 1: regardless of cost or ability to pay. Let's learn more

30
00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,280
Speaker 1: about the program now, Tia Goodman's here. Tia, thank you

31
00:01:29,319 --> 00:01:31,399
Speaker 1: so much for your time on the show, and you

32
00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:34,160
Speaker 1: are the program manager. And I've got to say you all,

33
00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:35,759
Speaker 1: I been at this for a few years so far,

34
00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:37,160
Speaker 1: and it seems pretty successful.

35
00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,160
Speaker 2: So the Mobile Momography program started back in two thousand

36
00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:44,520
Speaker 2: and two. Initially it was a joint venture between the

37
00:01:44,560 --> 00:01:47,440
Speaker 2: City of Boston and Dana Farber. I was told that

38
00:01:47,560 --> 00:01:50,320
Speaker 2: Dana Farber leased a van through the city for a

39
00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:52,520
Speaker 2: ridiculous amount of money. I think like a dollar per

40
00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:55,320
Speaker 2: year and not exangerating when I say that. Nice But

41
00:01:55,440 --> 00:01:58,560
Speaker 2: in two thousand and nine, Dana Farber purchased its own

42
00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,960
Speaker 2: van and since that time, the van's been solely owned

43
00:02:02,000 --> 00:02:05,640
Speaker 2: and operated by Dana Farber. We provide just one type

44
00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:08,640
Speaker 2: of service on the van, which is screening momography. That's

45
00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,440
Speaker 2: for those who were do for their annual screenings. They're

46
00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:15,400
Speaker 2: not experiencing any issues with their breasts like lumps, pain, discharged,

47
00:02:15,480 --> 00:02:18,560
Speaker 2: They're just due for their annual screening. We do all

48
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:22,160
Speaker 2: the guidelines of the American College of Radiology, which recommends

49
00:02:22,200 --> 00:02:25,919
Speaker 2: annual screenings beginning at age forty. There are some exceptions

50
00:02:25,919 --> 00:02:28,080
Speaker 2: for those between the ages of thirty and thirty nine.

51
00:02:28,320 --> 00:02:31,080
Speaker 2: We just have to check patient eligibility for those within

52
00:02:31,120 --> 00:02:32,079
Speaker 2: that age range.

53
00:02:32,320 --> 00:02:35,920
Speaker 1: Okay, and who are these patients that you're hoping to

54
00:02:36,000 --> 00:02:40,120
Speaker 1: access with the van. I'm assuming it's people in underserved areas,

55
00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:43,200
Speaker 1: but expand on that a bit if you could so.

56
00:02:43,240 --> 00:02:46,720
Speaker 2: Our target population includes those who are non English speaking.

57
00:02:47,400 --> 00:02:50,560
Speaker 2: All of the administrative staff in the van is bilingual

58
00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:54,240
Speaker 2: in Spanish. When person's trilingual, she also knows Cape, Verding, Creole,

59
00:02:54,320 --> 00:02:59,079
Speaker 2: and some Portuguese. So non English speaking anyone who's uninsured

60
00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:01,839
Speaker 2: or may have out of network coverage. Danis Farber does

61
00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:06,040
Speaker 2: have financial assistance or financial assistance program to help those

62
00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:09,320
Speaker 2: who may be limited and you may need some type

63
00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:14,760
Speaker 2: of financial assistance with getting the screening covered. Also, immigrant

64
00:03:14,760 --> 00:03:18,799
Speaker 2: populations I want to stay on the van. Almost half

65
00:03:18,840 --> 00:03:21,600
Speaker 2: of our patients speak a language other than English, so

66
00:03:22,360 --> 00:03:25,560
Speaker 2: I believe maybe close to thirty percent this past fiscal

67
00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:29,320
Speaker 2: year spoke Spanish as their primary language, so a lot

68
00:03:29,360 --> 00:03:33,640
Speaker 2: of our patients are you know, international. They live in

69
00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:36,880
Speaker 2: areas of Boston. The van's limited to thirty five miles

70
00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:40,000
Speaker 2: from our main campus in Boston, the Greater Boston area,

71
00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:46,480
Speaker 2: but the van predominantly visits Boston neighborhoods such as Dorchester, Roxbury.

72
00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,520
Speaker 2: There are some sites like Building Street Health cent Term

73
00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,480
Speaker 2: Dorchester that we go to once a month. There's the

74
00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:55,880
Speaker 2: Demic Center in Roxbury that's also typically a monthly visit

75
00:03:55,920 --> 00:03:59,840
Speaker 2: as well. In Brighton and Waltham there is Charles erbriks

76
00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:02,040
Speaker 2: An Health. I think that may be one of our

77
00:04:03,160 --> 00:04:06,640
Speaker 2: longest standing partners, but we visit both of those sites

78
00:04:06,680 --> 00:04:10,240
Speaker 2: once a month as well, so it's quite a diverse population.

79
00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:13,840
Speaker 2: In addition to taking the van to community health centers,

80
00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:16,719
Speaker 2: we also go to community based organizations. We've been to

81
00:04:16,720 --> 00:04:20,839
Speaker 2: a handful of churches. This past year, we've been partnering

82
00:04:21,800 --> 00:04:25,880
Speaker 2: more frequently with boards of health public health departments. Just

83
00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:29,560
Speaker 2: yesterday we were at the Situate Board of Health actually

84
00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,800
Speaker 2: Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Situate. It's a vanday that

85
00:04:32,839 --> 00:04:35,640
Speaker 2: we run in conjunction with the Situate Board of Health.

86
00:04:36,200 --> 00:04:40,880
Speaker 2: That's always a popular than visit or van location, especially

87
00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:44,640
Speaker 2: diagnostic or imaging services in the area for quite far,

88
00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,480
Speaker 2: so a lot of people take advantage of the van

89
00:04:47,560 --> 00:04:51,520
Speaker 2: when it comes to Situate. We also visit a handful

90
00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:55,719
Speaker 2: of corporate sites each year, so we have corporate partners

91
00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:59,360
Speaker 2: that will provide us with financial support and we bring

92
00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:03,479
Speaker 2: the van to place of the business so that employees

93
00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,400
Speaker 2: will have access to our services. You know. That's also

94
00:05:06,600 --> 00:05:10,159
Speaker 2: very popular aspects of our program because it allows employees,

95
00:05:10,520 --> 00:05:13,400
Speaker 2: you know, not to have to travel to an appointment

96
00:05:13,480 --> 00:05:15,880
Speaker 2: or take time off or an appointment or going basically

97
00:05:15,920 --> 00:05:18,600
Speaker 2: to the parsoning lot, getting their mammogram and going back

98
00:05:18,600 --> 00:05:20,799
Speaker 2: to their desks usually within a matter of twenty minutes.

99
00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:21,720
Speaker 2: It's even that long.

100
00:05:21,960 --> 00:05:22,320
Speaker 1: Wow.

101
00:05:22,600 --> 00:05:24,360
Speaker 2: We're all about convenience.

102
00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,599
Speaker 1: And that's a big factor I think for working people

103
00:05:26,760 --> 00:05:29,600
Speaker 1: or people who don't have proper transportation. There's so many

104
00:05:29,680 --> 00:05:35,080
Speaker 1: reasons why people don't have access to mammograms. But what

105
00:05:35,279 --> 00:05:37,280
Speaker 1: really stood out to me I was taking a look

106
00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,360
Speaker 1: at your website and it says in twenty twenty three,

107
00:05:41,520 --> 00:05:43,040
Speaker 1: I believe it was something to the effect of like

108
00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,600
Speaker 1: thirteen or fourteen percent of people who had their mammogram

109
00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:50,279
Speaker 1: on the van it was their first ever mammogram. And

110
00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:52,120
Speaker 1: I think a lot of people take it for granted

111
00:05:52,160 --> 00:05:55,600
Speaker 1: that mammograms are just part of part of our healthcare journey,

112
00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:57,159
Speaker 1: but it clearly is not the case.

113
00:05:57,600 --> 00:06:00,600
Speaker 2: Absolutely so. I'm a daughter of a breast cancer survivor

114
00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,200
Speaker 2: and I've had three aunts pass away from breast cancer.

115
00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:06,000
Speaker 2: So the mission of our program is near and dear

116
00:06:06,400 --> 00:06:09,120
Speaker 2: to me, you know, to my heart. So I think,

117
00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,200
Speaker 2: you know, a lot of people are a little hesitant

118
00:06:11,200 --> 00:06:14,080
Speaker 2: because they think of the pain. There can be some discomfort,

119
00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:18,040
Speaker 2: but it's a very quick procedure. Our staff are excellent.

120
00:06:18,120 --> 00:06:22,279
Speaker 2: Our technologists have years of experience performing homography. You know,

121
00:06:22,320 --> 00:06:24,800
Speaker 2: they do a great job of explaining the process to

122
00:06:24,880 --> 00:06:28,400
Speaker 2: patients and walking them do the exam. You know, it's

123
00:06:28,440 --> 00:06:31,599
Speaker 2: worthwhile the few seconds well I won't say a few seconds,

124
00:06:31,640 --> 00:06:34,599
Speaker 2: but maybe thirty seconds or so, of discomfort.

125
00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:37,720
Speaker 1: Yeah, it is. And honestly, if you have access and

126
00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,720
Speaker 1: you can get it done. Oftentimes your insurance will cover it,

127
00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:45,040
Speaker 1: even if you're publicly insured. But what if somebody shows

128
00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:47,440
Speaker 1: up at the van and says, look, I don't have insurance.

129
00:06:47,600 --> 00:06:49,920
Speaker 1: Can I still get screened? Would you take them?

130
00:06:50,200 --> 00:06:52,800
Speaker 2: Yes, we will image them as long as they're clinically eligible,

131
00:06:52,920 --> 00:06:55,200
Speaker 2: and we'll work with our financial counselors to make sure

132
00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:57,919
Speaker 2: that their screening will be covered.

133
00:06:58,240 --> 00:06:59,680
Speaker 1: So, I mean, you've been out there for twenty years

134
00:06:59,760 --> 00:07:02,440
Speaker 1: or so doing this work. You've been able to provide

135
00:07:02,520 --> 00:07:06,200
Speaker 1: tens of thousands of mammograms. Are you, still, though, seeing

136
00:07:06,240 --> 00:07:09,279
Speaker 1: a need for further extension of your services or do

137
00:07:09,320 --> 00:07:11,280
Speaker 1: you think that you're able to cover the neighborhoods that

138
00:07:11,320 --> 00:07:13,200
Speaker 1: are of most need at this point?

139
00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:15,760
Speaker 2: Now, I wish we were able to go beyond our

140
00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:18,840
Speaker 2: thirty five mile service area because we have gotten quite

141
00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:22,320
Speaker 2: a few requests from some sites down the cape. Maybe

142
00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,440
Speaker 2: in the future. No time. See, I will say we're

143
00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,000
Speaker 2: short staff of radiologists, and unfortunately that's not an issue

144
00:07:29,000 --> 00:07:31,560
Speaker 2: that's limited to us, that's a national issue, so there's

145
00:07:31,600 --> 00:07:35,560
Speaker 2: no chance of expanding. Plus, also there are billing compliance

146
00:07:35,600 --> 00:07:39,200
Speaker 2: or billing regulations with US trying to expand outside of

147
00:07:39,200 --> 00:07:42,400
Speaker 2: the greater Boston area, but future I would love to

148
00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:46,120
Speaker 2: have another VAN that could possibly feel further south, maybe

149
00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:47,480
Speaker 2: even go out west as well.

150
00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,640
Speaker 1: You help people connect with primary care physicians if they

151
00:07:50,640 --> 00:07:53,000
Speaker 1: don't have one, and you help connect people to health

152
00:07:53,000 --> 00:07:56,360
Speaker 1: insurance as well, because I think so many people, if

153
00:07:56,360 --> 00:07:58,200
Speaker 1: I've read this correctly, and I know a lot of

154
00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:01,840
Speaker 1: people who have experienced it, there is a significant lack

155
00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:05,320
Speaker 1: of primary care physicians and providers out there right now,

156
00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:07,880
Speaker 1: and nurses as well. So the fact that you're able

157
00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:09,960
Speaker 1: to help out and connect these people, that's going to

158
00:08:10,000 --> 00:08:12,080
Speaker 1: be an important piece of the pie too. For the

159
00:08:12,120 --> 00:08:12,760
Speaker 1: work you're doing.

160
00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:16,040
Speaker 2: No, absolutely, the majority of our van partners are community

161
00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,560
Speaker 2: health centers where's there're PCPs who are referring patients to

162
00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,840
Speaker 2: our vans, So we definitely will assist anyone who needs

163
00:08:22,840 --> 00:08:26,520
Speaker 2: help with establishing care in the state of Massachusetts. You

164
00:08:26,600 --> 00:08:30,240
Speaker 2: do not need a referral from a provider to have

165
00:08:30,280 --> 00:08:34,320
Speaker 2: a screening mammogram, However, we highly encourage it because we

166
00:08:34,360 --> 00:08:36,800
Speaker 2: do want you to be involved in the medical system

167
00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:40,720
Speaker 2: and covering all aspects of healthcare. But also if you

168
00:08:40,880 --> 00:08:43,800
Speaker 2: have an abnormal finding, we'll need to work with your

169
00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,400
Speaker 2: provider to get the diagnostic order before you can be

170
00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:48,600
Speaker 2: scheduled for that imaging.

171
00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:51,520
Speaker 1: How can people find out where the vent is going

172
00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:53,960
Speaker 1: to be? Do you post a list online social media?

173
00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:55,280
Speaker 1: Like how can people track it down?

174
00:08:55,960 --> 00:08:58,160
Speaker 2: Yeah? So on our website, which needs to be updated.

175
00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:00,840
Speaker 2: I apologize in advance, it's just been a little busy

176
00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:03,120
Speaker 2: on my end. We do have a list of upcoming

177
00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:08,720
Speaker 2: van visits. It states the location and the date, so

178
00:09:08,840 --> 00:09:12,280
Speaker 2: patients are interested. Patients. Potential patients are able to check

179
00:09:12,280 --> 00:09:15,080
Speaker 2: out our website to learn more. They could also call

180
00:09:15,120 --> 00:09:18,239
Speaker 2: our office directly at six one, seven, six three two

181
00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:21,760
Speaker 2: or nine seventy four if they are not able to

182
00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,160
Speaker 2: make it to one of the van visits. We also

183
00:09:24,280 --> 00:09:27,280
Speaker 2: have a mimogracy suite at Whittier Street Health Center in

184
00:09:27,400 --> 00:09:31,840
Speaker 2: Roxbury that's open on Mondays and Wednesdays. We simply lease

185
00:09:31,920 --> 00:09:36,160
Speaker 2: the space from Whittier and it's staffed by Dana Farber employees.

186
00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:37,839
Speaker 2: We handle everything.

187
00:09:37,720 --> 00:09:40,320
Speaker 1: Phenomenal and again, you do not have to necessarily be

188
00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:43,560
Speaker 1: a patient of Dana Farber. This is for anybody who

189
00:09:43,640 --> 00:09:44,120
Speaker 1: needs it.

190
00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:47,600
Speaker 2: Correct. The majority of our patients have never received care

191
00:09:47,640 --> 00:09:48,440
Speaker 2: at Dana Farber.

192
00:09:48,679 --> 00:09:52,360
Speaker 1: All right, fantastic, And what would you say your biggest

193
00:09:52,360 --> 00:09:54,800
Speaker 1: advice would be to somebody who's listening and thinking, well,

194
00:09:54,679 --> 00:09:57,840
Speaker 1: I probably shouldn't. It's been a while since I've had

195
00:09:57,840 --> 00:10:00,720
Speaker 1: an exam, but I'm fine, I feel okay. What would

196
00:10:00,720 --> 00:10:02,400
Speaker 1: your advice be to somebody in that position?

197
00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:04,880
Speaker 2: You know, we've gotten a number of phone calls from patients.

198
00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:07,000
Speaker 2: You know, we have to ask when was your most

199
00:10:07,040 --> 00:10:10,000
Speaker 2: recent mammograham and they'll say, oh, you know, kind of shamefully,

200
00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,960
Speaker 2: you know, possibly five years or even more. Yeah, And

201
00:10:14,080 --> 00:10:17,000
Speaker 2: I just say, you know what, better late than ever. Again,

202
00:10:17,080 --> 00:10:20,760
Speaker 2: it's a very short exam. There can be some discomfort,

203
00:10:20,880 --> 00:10:23,680
Speaker 2: but again we've got wonderful staff who will walk in

204
00:10:23,720 --> 00:10:27,560
Speaker 2: through the procedure. It's just worthwhile, you know, taking the

205
00:10:27,600 --> 00:10:29,920
Speaker 2: time to come to the van for twenty minutes. Again,

206
00:10:30,600 --> 00:10:32,960
Speaker 2: that's an average appointment in times when people are in

207
00:10:33,000 --> 00:10:35,520
Speaker 2: and out within ten minutes, just for peace of mind

208
00:10:35,559 --> 00:10:37,960
Speaker 2: and making sure that they're taking care of their breath health.

209
00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:39,720
Speaker 1: Well, Tia, thank you so much for your time on

210
00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:41,560
Speaker 1: the show. It was really great to have you here,

211
00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:43,640
Speaker 1: and thank you for the work you're doing in the community.

212
00:10:43,880 --> 00:10:45,959
Speaker 2: I appreciate you taking the opportunity to listen.

213
00:10:47,280 --> 00:10:49,720
Speaker 1: Have a safe and healthy weekend. Please join us again

214
00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:52,400
Speaker 1: next week for another edition of the show. I'm Nicole

215
00:10:52,520 --> 00:10:55,599
Speaker 1: Davis from WBZ News Radio on iHeartRadio