The John B. Amos Cancer Center will host a variety of no-cost screenings over the next few months to better serve the most pressing health needs of the community. The services began last month with colorectal cancer screenings in partnership with the West Central Georgia Cancer Coalition and MercyMed.
They will continue this month through September with:
April: Head and neck cancer screenings
May: Skin cancer screenings in partnership with Southeast Dermatology Specialists
September: Prostate cancer screenings
Piedmont facilities undergo a formal process every three years called a Community Health Needs Assessment to identify what the most pressing health needs are.
The identified health needs for the Columbus metropolitan area are:
- Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure (this is a priority across the Piedmont system)
- Increase access to health care services
- Heart disease and stroke
- Cancer
- Mental health
This assessment is the result of a comprehensive approach involving the analysis of relevant public health data, hospital data, conducting listening interviews, and community surveys.
“For the next three years, we will work with community and hospital partners to incorporate activities into each implementation strategy that address social, economic, or racial barriers to good health, said Piedmont Columbus Regional Community Outreach Manager Melonese Close. “The end goal is to improve the health of all in our region by tackling the social and economic root causes of poor health.”
The Piedmont Columbus Regional Mobile Unit bus routinely visits high-risk zip codes to perform no-cost blood pressure screenings and provide health education on high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, and nutrition, with direct referral pathways for poverty-stricken and underinsured patients.
For more information on Piedmont Columbus Regional, visit Piedmont.org/Columbus.
