With more financial challenges facing Floridians, the University of Florida (UF) health care professionals are offering more services to help residents deal with the rising costs of staying healthy.
UF officials point out that recent studies found that 46% of all Florida households have trouble paying for necessities such as food, transportation, and rent. Health care is often put on the back burner. The United Way ALICE report — Asset-Limited, Income Constrained, and Employed — included that data.
Given that health care sometimes takes a back seat, UF is committing to highlighting its services. Most notably, the UF Health Cancer Center uses its mobile cancer screening bus to visit places in Florida that may be off the beaten path or farther from hospitals. The traveling screening vehicle will expand access to cancer detection and other health care services, including three-dimensional mammograms and colon, prostate, and cervical cancer.
“The Mobile Cancer Screening Connector” is a first-of-its-kind service that traverses more remote areas in North Central Florida. The vehicle targets residents of rural areas where many Floridians lack access to screenings.
The mobile services help increase cancer services in underserved communities. In 15 out of 23 counties, mammogram rates are below the state average.
“By offering several types of cancer screening services in one place, we will use the Connector to reach more people, encouraging community members to get multiple cancer screenings closer to where they live and to bring their friends and family to get screened, too,” said Ramzi Salloum, Ph.D., the Cancer Center’s associate director for community outreach and engagement.
Beyond the cancer screening outreach, UF medical experts are increasing efforts to make statewide pharmacy care more accessible. They are doing this by using UF pharmacy students.
“Our hope is that our students recognize the important role that a pharmacist can have in the lives of these patient populations,” said Stacey Curtis, a clinical associate professor and the assistant dean for experiential education in the College of Pharmacy. “For those who have limited access to primary health care, pharmacists are readily available in those areas to help provide that care.”
Meanwhile, UF is also increasing dental care for the underserved by utilizing the Saving Smiles Program to promote children’s oral health. The program also uses the Mobile Dental Outreach program at Arc of Alachua County. That program provides dental screenings for people with intellectual, developmental or acquired disabilities.
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