Creating a sustainable patient navigator role to reduce cancer incidence and mortality rates among minority populations in Greater Portland

Greater Portland Health is working to effectively increase preventative cancer screening rates among our minority population age-appropriate patients to reach established organizational targets for breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer, along with Hepatitis C testing to prevent liver cancer. We have found through our experience providing culturally sensitive care to greater Portland’s underserved minority populations, that outreach workers serving as patient navigators and cultural brokers within their communities are very effective in engaging the target population in order to reach priority health center goals.

Through this three-year grant, Greater Portland Health will employ an outreach worker to increase screening rates among eligible minority patients.