Back to Grant Outcomes

Project Renewal

Use of the ScanVan for Tuberculosis and Breast Cancer Screening Among Poor and Homeless New Yorkers

Low-income, minority, and homeless people in New York City suffer from health problems at far greater rates than the population as a whole.

Special Projects Fund

Grantee Name

Project Renewal

Funding Area

Special Projects Fund

Publication Date

August 2012

Grant Amount

$230,000

Grant Date:

February 1, 2008 – April 23, 2010

DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT

Print

Low-income, minority, and homeless people in New York City suffer from health problems at far greater rates than the population as a whole.

A high incidence of breast cancer and tuberculosis exists among this population, yet many individuals lack access to standard of care procedures for these illnesses, including mammography screenings, breast health education services and chest x-rays. In 2007, Project Renewal and the City’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and Department of Homeless Services responded to this gap in care by launching The Scan Van, a mobile mammography and tuberculosis screening clinic serving people living in New York City’s homeless shelters and other very low-income individuals.

NYHealth awarded Project Renewal a grant to partially support ongoing operations of The ScanVan for its first two years.

Outcomes and Lessons Learned

  • Developed outreach material in a variety of languages.
  • Created a system for reminding women of their appointments.
  • Conducted mammography X-rays and clinical breast exams on the ScanVan.
  • Contacted and counseled women whose tests showed abnormal results.
  • Conducted chest X-rays at shelters in Manhattan and Brooklyn.
  • Communicated X-ray results within one week of screening.
  • Provided abnormal results to the shelter’s primary clinician to facilitate referrals for treatment.
  • Secured funding from a variety of public and private sources.
Back to Grant Outcomes