title: Breast cancer screening practices of safety net clinics: results of a needs assessment study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For low income and uninsured populations, safety net clinics are an important source of health care, including preventive services such as mammography screening. However, little is known about how well breast health is coordinated within the safety net clinic environment and what barriers patients encounter.
  
  
  METHODS
  A needs assessment was conducted among eight community-based safety net clinics located in Montgomery County, Maryland to learn about breast cancer referral and screening procedures. Structured in-depth interviews were conducted with clinic staff during the summer of 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Safety net clinics reported that they routinely identified women who need mammography screening and referred women to mammography screening facilities. However, clinics were not aware of the limited number of free or low cost mammography screening slots available in the county or the waiting time to receive mammography services. Overall, screening barriers were common in the safety net system and only a few procedures were in place to help women overcome these barriers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Safety net clinics face multiple barriers in providing and coordinating breast cancer screening services for low income or uninsured patients. These barriers prevent the efficient allocation of mammography screening services and prevent underserved women from accessing an important preventive health service.
authors: Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work, 11200 SW 8th Street, Miami, FL 33199, USA. palmerr@fiu.edu
authors: Richard C
authors: RC
authors: Palmer
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: Samson
authors: Anamica
authors: A
authors: Batra
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Triantis
authors: Irene D
authors: ID
authors: Mullan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D018864:Cultural Diversity; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008327:Mammography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008396:Maryland; D017057:Medically Uninsured; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009934:Organization and Administration; D011203:Poverty; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012017:Referral and Consultation