Dr. Carlos Roberts, a York-based Urogynecologist, is Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of the WellSpan Health Women and Children service line.  

It’s no secret that to some, access to healthcare can feel more like a game of chance than a thoughtfully designed system of care. The stakes are even higher for marginalized community members, especially if they are Black or Latinx.  

Healthcare inequity for people of color comes from several issues, each layered and complex. People of color face higher rates of cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity and experience higher instances of infant and maternal mortality stemming from social determinants of health like limited access to healthcare and disproportionate exposure to socioeconomic disadvantages. Furthermore, people of color have higher rates of mortality for all of these conditions compared to their white counterparts. While Black individuals make up 10.5% of Pennsylvania’s population and the Latinx community makes up 8.1%, public health data shows these populations account for a disproportionate number of chronic and potentially fatal healthcare conditions.  

That’s where we step up to the challenge. WellSpan is proud of its mission: Working as One to improve health through exceptional care for all, lifelong wellness and healthy communities. We emphasize “for all” because no one deserves to be left behind. 

One of the ways in which we are narrowing the disparity gap for people of color is to make breast cancer screening easier. In October, WellSpan joins others around the world in raising awareness of breast cancer and encouraging fundraising for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.  

And nearly every day in October we’re taking breast cancer screenings on the road with our can’t-miss purple mobile mammography coach. Getting screened for breast cancer is easy, and WellSpan uses artificial intelligence to enhance our capabilities, alongside our radiologists, to interpret mammograms and detect breast cancers early. This state-of-the-art mobile coach conveniently meets women where they work and live. The mobile mammography coach can frequently be spotted at health fairs and the doorstep of businesses or organizations.  

An upside of getting a mobile mammography screening is avoiding hours away from work. For screenings hosted by employer, women can simply take a scheduled break for a quick 15 to 20-minute screening appointment. These stops are offered at no cost to the businesses or organizations who host a screening. For other women, it’s the convenience of the coach set up in their neighborhood, within a walkable distance. For still others, it may be childcare assistance for the few minutes it takes to be screened.  

Whatever the case may be, our mobile mammography coach is making a difference. In the most recent year, 1,281 women were screened. Of these, nine received confirmation of an early breast cancer diagnosis with these patients referred to a provider to discuss treatment options early and hence more likely to have a cure. Among those nearly 1,300 women screened, 153 were Hispanic and 73 were Black. While that may not seem like much, it’s nearly double the numbers of Hispanic and Black women screened through this mobile service during the previous year.  

The mammogram coach will continue to be highly visible in the communities we serve, bringing screenings to more women, including those in underserved areas. Want to reserve a spot or help someone else make an appointment? Here’s what you can do:  

• Find out where the mobile mammography coach is headed and schedule an appointment: https://www.wellspan.org/WellSpan-Spotlight/Events.  
• Remember that mammograms can help avert roughly 20 percent of breast cancer deaths with early detection, when outcomes are best for treatment.  
• If a woman is hesitant to schedule an appointment due to concerns about cost, it’s important to know that Pennsylvania laws require health insurers to cover mammograms and diagnostic breast imaging.  
• If a woman has no health coverage, call 717-851-5051 to see if she is eligible for no-cost screening or screening at a discounted cost.  
• If a woman has a language barrier, assistance in over 200 languages is available, including Spanish, Nepali and Haitian Creole.  

Businesses and organizations wishing to host a mammography screening event may schedule one by calling 717-GoMammo.  

We’re up to the challenge of addressing health disparities and with our mobile mammography coach, we’re in this one for the long haul!