What's New

State Funding to Serve Women 18-44

Effective July 1, 2006, Governor Tim Kaine and the General Assembly earmarked $405,176 for each year of the 2006-2008 biennium to expand the Every Women's Life (EWL) program.  This expansion has allowed the EWL program to screen an additional 1,108 women between the ages of 18-44 during GY 2007. As of June 7, 2007, EWL has diagnosed 40 cases of precancerous cervical conditions, 1 case of invasive cervical cancer, and 21 cases of breast cancer in women between the ages of 18-44.  

Colorectal Cancer Screening for EWL Enrolled Women

In July 2006, $60,000 in special funds for colorectal cancer (CRC) screening among EWL enrolled women was allocated and approved by the Department of Health. Three pilot sites, who are also EWL providers, (Riverside Health System, Crossover Health Center, and OB/GYN Physicians) were selected based on incidence and mortality statistics for CRC. Of the 88 fecal immunochemical tests (FITs) performed, only 8 (about 9%) have tested positive and were referred for colonoscopy.  There have been no reported cases of colorectal cancer.

 

Spring 2006 EWL Survey Results Indicate
High Level of Client Satisfaction

Requesting feedback from patients is one reliable approach to improving the quality of care to better meet their needs. EWL participants graded the continuum of program services ranging from ease of enrollment to follow up care. Surveys were designed as a traditional report card, using a scale of A through D, corresponding to services rating “Great!” through “Poor" Of the nine questions asked on the survey, all received an average grade of “A.” Survey results showed that 98% of women surveyed said that they would recommend the program to a friend. One woman's comment echoes many other similar statements from patients stating, “I so appreciate the way I was treated and the quality of care I was given.” Nearly ten percent, or 600 women, of the statewide EWL caseload were randomly selected to complete the survey, which was administered in clinics by twenty-three provider sites across the state. The surveys were available in both English and Spanish. The Every Woman's Life program will use the grades to structure future services in an ongoing effort to provide excellent patient care.

In February 2005, the Virginia Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) began a special CDC-funded photo documentary project to gather images and stories of ten women in three regions of the state. The ten geographically and ethnically diverse women were served by Virginia's breast and cervical cancer screening program, also known as Every Woman's Life. Richmond photographer Thurston Howes captured hundreds of images of the women in a variety of settings important to them such as their church, place of work, home, garden, or with family or pets.

The women's images and stories will be used in BCCEDP outreach materials across the state to add a human element to emphasize the impact of breast and cervical cancer screenings on real women and their families in Virginia. The women participating in the project recognized the photo documentary as an opportunity to help other women make critical, lifesaving decisions regarding screening for breast and cervical cancer

*To view the slide show, you will need to download the Acrobat tool at the pop-up prompt upon clicking on the file

Focus Group Report (June 2004)

Pam McCarthy and Associates was contracted by the Program to conduct focus group to identify barriers and motivators to women participating in free cancer screenings.

Provider Awareness Survey (June 2004)

The Program contracted with the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University to collect information from physicians and nurse practitioners about their awareness and of and referrals to the BCCEDP program.

Professional Education Survey (June 2004)

The Program contracted with the Survey and Evaluation Research Laboratory at Virginia Commonwealth University to collect information from providers about their professional education interests.

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