The use of mammography to detect breast cancer has saved innumerable lives. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the five-year breast cancer survival rate is 99%when the disease is caught in its earliest, localized stages.

Yet, despite the availability of breast cancer screening, the incidence of breast cancer mortality among Black females in Western New York outpaces the rate for all races by 43%. While the reasons for this disparity are varied and complex, late-stage cancer diagnosis plays a role.

For example, while national statistics point to an 80% mammogram screening rate for Black females, the neighborhoods of ZIP code 14215 in the City of Buffalo have a breast cancer screening rate of only 56% for Independent Health’s Medicaid managed care membership.

As a way to improve access to potentially lifesaving mammograms, Independent Health has provided funding to ECMC to open a Breast Health Center on ECMC’s campus that will serve the entire community.

Since many of the residents in the Delevan-Grider neighborhood rely on ECMC for theirprimary care needs, the addition of the Breast Health Center on the same campus will eliminate transportation and coordination barriers patients often experience. The Breast Health Center will also offer the option of walk-in and same-day appointments, as well as guidance and coordination of care for patients who face a diagnosis of breast cancer.

This is not the first collaborative initiative by Independent Health and ECMC to benefit the community. In 2021, Independent Health provided ECMC with innovation dollars to improve post-discharge care through a care transitions process, which led to a 46% reduction in hospital readmissions and improved post-discharge care. It was so successful that ECMC expanded its care transitions program to all its patients.

Independent Health and ECMC have a shared responsibility to improve the lives of the Western New York community. Given the past success of our teamwork to identify a need and create a solution, we anticipate a future of lower breast cancer mortality, improved access to these important screenings and a better outlook for our fellow residents.

This article was written by Michael W. Cropp, M.D., president and CEO of Independent Health, and Thomas J. Quatroche Jr., Ph.D., CEO of Erie County Medical Center. It was originally published in The Buffalo News . Read the original article here.