Frequently Asked Questions
We are pleased to announce that Capital Breast Care Center is expanding its range of services to Washington, D.C., area residents by coordinating mammography services throughout the city instead of a single site. Through our clinical partnership with MedStar Health and its relationship with DC Primary Care Association, patient navigators are now able to connect more women to breast cancer screening services at locations around the city with the goal of making it more convenient to take advantage of life-saving screening. Capital Breast Cancer Center navigators will continue to guide women who might need additional follow-up. CBCC remains committed to reducing the burden of cancer among underserved women in our community.
- 1. Can I get my mammogram at the Capital Breast Care Center office?
CBCC will provide navigation to mammography screening providers convenient to where you live. While we no longer provide direct screening services, our patient navigators will help women find a screening location convenient to them, including the Betty Lou Ourisman Breast Health Center at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.
- 2. I used to get my mammogram at the MedStar PromptCare Capitol Hill location, can I still go there?
Prior to this expansion, MedStar PromptCare at Capitol Hill was the only location providing breast cancer screening for CBCC clients, but it will no longer provide that service in favor of helping women obtain access to a variety of screening locations at MedStar Health locations and other providers around the city. CBCC navigators will assist women in finding a breast cancer screening location that is most convenient to them.
- 3. Has Capital Breast Care Center changed its services?
Capital Breast Cancer Center has changed the method of delivery of services to the community by working with area hospitals and facilities to provide convenient mammography services. CBCC now has access to additional navigators through MedStar’s relationship with DCPCA and will continue our mission of enabling “culturally sensitive breast cancer screening services and health and wellness education guided by evidence-based practices to all women in the Washington, DC area.” In addition, CBCC will continue to conduct educational outreach in the community to increase the number of women who seek and receive potentially life-saving mammography screening.
- 4. Does CBCC still cover screening for women who don’t have insurance?
CBCC will continue to work with area resources and foundations to assist patients needing screening services. The Affordable Care Act has increased the number of people covered by health insurance, which allows our residents to have increased access to care facilities in the area. For those who don’t have insurance, CBCC will continue to explore other ways to assist uninsured women to pay for screening.
- 5. What has allowed for this expansion in services?
MedStar Health has established a new relationship with DC Primary Care Association (DCPCA), which is expected to expand the number of health delivery sites where Washington, D.C., residents can receive care and screening.
- 6. Does the relationship with DC Primary Care Association change screening goals?
No, through the new MedStar relationship with DC Primary Care Association, navigators will continue to navigate women into breast screening and diagnostic services. Navigators will also help patients more easily connect with a primary care physician. While breast cancer screening is one goal in the relationship, helping patients manage other serious chronic illnesses like diabetes, heart disease and others that disproportionately impact Washington, D.C., residents is also critical in improving the health of underserved women in the District.
- 8. Will CBCC continue its research?
Yes, the expansion of screening services allows researchers to better measure the effectiveness of navigators in this role. They’ll ask questions such as: Does having more navigators increase the number of women getting breast cancer screening? Does early diagnosis and treatment improve the outcome of those diagnosed? Have more women come under the care of a primary care physician? And does that make an impact on health outcomes?
- 9. Will the CBCC van still assist women without other transportation with getting to their screening appointments?
Yes, CBCC navigators will continue to lead community activities and navigate patients for screening and treatment services. The CBCC van will continue to be used to provide transportation from community sites for that purpose.