California Pacific Medical Center is providing free mammograms and a full health care check-up for some homeless women at the Project Homeless Connect on February 27th. For women who lack a home or a safe place to stay, getting a regular mammogram is probably way down on their list of things to do. They are too busy struggling just to survive. But now California Pacific Medical Center is providing free mammograms and a full health care check-up for some homeless women at the Project Homeless Connect on February 27th at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium.

"These women have already endured so much," says Shirley Manly Lampkin, R.N., Ph.D., Director of California Pacific Medical Center's Community Benefits program. "That's why we want to help them in whatever way we can, by offering them a complete health assessment, in a way that makes them feel cared for, and respected."

Six women who are homeless and are considered at high risk for breast cancer, or who have never had a mammogram before, will be taken to California Pacific Medical Center where they will get a comprehensive health assessment, including blood pressure, lung function, pap smear, oral and vision exams, as well as foot health. The women will then get a mammogram at CPMC's California campus, one of the most sophisticated mammogram centers in the US. All the machines are digital, which are not only more accurate than standard film mammograms but they also take less time and so involve less discomfort. Each mammogram suite is designed and decorated in a way that helps create a more relaxing atmosphere for the client.

"We are limiting it to six this time because it is a pilot program" says Lampkin. "Once we have fine tuned the program we'll be able to offer it to more women at future PHC events as part of CPMC's African American Breast Health/Sister-to-Sister program."

"This is such a wonderful service to be able to offer the women who come to us for help" says Judith Klain, Director of Project Homeless Connect. "We offer a wide range of medical services on-site at each PHC event, but this is the first time we've been able to offer anything like this. For some of these women it may be the first time they have ever had a mammogram. We're hoping it won't be the last."

Klain was recently named one of the winners of this year's prestigious MFAC Public Managerial Excellence Awards. The award honors City employees considered to have demonstrated extraordinary leadership skills.

February 27th, will mark the 21st Project Homeless Connect event at the Bill Graham Auditorium in Civic Center Plaza (10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.) and it will be sponsored by California Pacific Medical Center and Sutter Health, who are sending a large contingent of volunteers for the day. California Pacific has been a partner in many previous PHC events and in addition to helping fund the event has made it a regular part of its Leadership Development program.

"As a not-for-profit hospital we are committed to helping those in need," says Martin Brotman, M.D., President and CEO of California Pacific Medical Center. "That's why we're honored to be part of the work that Project Homeless Connect does. Working with so many wonderful volunteers from so many different walks of life is a reminder of why we all love San Francisco, and what makes this city so great".

At the PHC meeting in December volunteers served more than 1,800 people. Almost 300 were screened for benefits, everything from SSI and Medi-Cal to food stamps; 164 people got medical care, 109 got dental care; 273 got help in finding a job; 200 got eye glasses to help them see or read; and 115 were helped to get off the streets into shelters, housing or residential treatment programs.

PHC has proven so effective a model for addressing the issue of homelessness that it is now being copied in more than 160 cities and counties in 26 states around the US. It is also being replicated internationally in Canada, Puerto Rico and Australia.


Source: California Pacific Medical Center