Foundation Releases 2021 See, Test & Treat Schedule
The fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to disproportionally impact at-risk communities across the US where economic and other barriers to health care provide an increase in the occurrence of preventable disease. That is why it is increasingly important that the CAP Foundation’s See, Test & Treat pathologist-led initiative continues to deliver free cervical and breast cancer screening to medically underserved people who face language, cultural, financial, and transportation barriers to health care.
For the program’s 10th anniversary, the CAP Foundation, in partnership with health care providers across the country, has announced 14 See, Test & Treat events in 2021. Program organizers estimate the events, in total, will serve over 1,000 patients.
Not only do these programs connect patients with their local health services, they create an educational space where pathologists and patients have more direct interaction, demystifying the laboratory testing process, according to Carey Z. August, MD, FCAP, president of the CAP Foundation.
“As the doctors who run medical laboratories, pathologists have been on the forefront of combatting the COVID-19 pandemic,” Dr. August said. She explained that pathologists have led COVID-19 testing efforts, but these physicians are also the specialists responsible for diagnosing cancer.
“COVID-19 testing has been in the headlines over the past year, but doctors everywhere are also concerned about unchecked, preventable diseases as many people may have delayed regular checkups and screenings.”
According to a study shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, rates for cervical cancer screening dropped by approximately 80% in some parts of the US during the height of the pandemic.
Maryrose Murphy, executive director of the CAP Foundation, said See, Test & Treat can help provide some relief to patients in need during difficult times.
“Some of these patients may have missed last year’s mammogram or Pap test, but some may have never had access to proper screening. We’re proud that See, Test & Treat can bring pathologists, clinicians, and volunteers together to help change that,” Murphy said.
Pathologists who led See, Test & Treat events in 2020 said the program had a significant impact on both patients and providers and look forward to hosting patients again in 2021.
Laura Jimenez-Quintero, MD, FCAP, medical director and CEO of Precise Pathology Associates, has led See, Test & Treat events at Liberty-Dayton Regional Medical Center in Liberty, Texas.
“The See, Test, & Treat program makes it possible for pathologists to educate program attendees by interpreting test results and explaining pathologists’ role in the patient treatment process,” Dr. Jimenez-Quintero said. “Further, through the program, pathologists encourage women to take action in promoting the criticality of routine preventative screenings and healthy lifestyle habits.”
Rebecca A. Osgood, MD, FCAP, chief of pathology at Cambridge Health Alliance and clinical associate in pathology at Massachusetts General Hospital, received positive feedback from patients and clinical partners after the 2020 See, Test & Treat in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She predicts another successful event in October 2021.
Dr. Osgood said, “Our volunteers state over and over that they love this event, and it fulfills the reasons many went into health care—to help people, especially those in need.”
View the full schedule of 2021 See, Test & Treat events below (note, dates are subject to change).
See, Test & Treat Program Schedule
| April 6 | April 20 | April 20 |
|---|---|---|
| University of Mississippi Medical Center Jackson, Mississippi | White Plains Hospital White Plains, New York | St Mary's Medical Center Huntington, West Virginia |
| April 27 | August 17 | October 5 |
|---|---|---|
| Baylor Scott & White Medical Center Irving, Texas | Loyola University Medical Center Maywood, Illinois | St Elizabeth Medical Center Edgewood, Kentucky |
| October 19 | October 25 | October 26 |
|---|---|---|
| Liberty Dayton Regional Medical Center Liberty, Texas | Cambridge Health Alliance Cambridge, Massachusetts | Rutgers New Jersey Cancer Institute Newark, New Jersey |
