Mobile breast cancer screening aims to improve access in BIPOC communities

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in women in the United States and a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. It is largely treatable when caught early with proper screening.

Across the country, there are significant racial disparities in breast cancer screening, care, and outcomes. The National Institutes of Health reported that Black women experience a higher number of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, lower quality of care, and higher death rates than white women.

We’ve seen a screening gap for our patients that reflects national trends. That’s why M Health Fairview launched a new initiative in late 2022 designed to improve breast cancer screening rates for all patients and reduce health disparities in breast cancer screening for Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) patients.

Our three mobile mammography trucks bring breast cancer screening to primary care clinics within our system that do not have imaging on site. The trucks frequently visit locations in the greater metro where these services are less available. We’ve expanded the program to include three primary care clinics in St. Paul and Minneapolis, helping remove barriers and provide screening at a trusted location. Language assistance is onsite during truck visits, in addition to imaging specialists who help explain the screening process and answer questions.  We’ve helped 58 patients get screened for breast cancer at our Bethesda, Phalen Village, and Smiley’s primary care clinics since expanding the initiative.

“We wanted to make it easier for patients to get screened and one way we’re doing that is by bringing the trucks to clinics they’re already comfortable with,” said Malay Thao, a health equity consultant with our quality and safety team. Thao is leading this initiative. “Many of the patients we serve at these clinics come from historically underserved communities, so there’s an education component to this work for people who are less familiar with screening processes and recommendations.”

By bringing mammography trucks to neighborhood clinics, Thao and her team are helping educate patients on the importance of routine breast cancer screening. They’re also simplifying the process to ensure all patients get the screening they need.

This initiative is part of work being done by the M Health Fairview Healing, Opportunity, People, Equity (HOPE) Commission, a multi-year transformational effort designed to drive more equitable outcomes and inclusive experiences for our patients, employees, and communities. The HOPE Commission uses an anti-racist approach, which is an active process of identifying and eliminating racism by changing systems, organizational structures, policies, practices, and attitudes. Learn more about these efforts in the 2022 HOPE Commission Report.

Taj Mustapha, MD, M Health Fairview’s chief equity strategy officer and a HOPE Commission leader, and Mark Welton, MD, M Health Fairview’s chief medical officer, are two of the local healthcare leaders featured in From Tragedy to Transformation, a discussion about how the summer of 2020 shaped health equity work in Minnesota.

Learn more about our commitment to health equity here.