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Lower Bucks Hospital and Keystone First Offered Mammograms to Bucks County Residents
Bristol, PA (October 19, 2023) – In recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, Lower Bucks Hospital and Keystone First kicked off a new initiative to offer mammograms to neighbors in Bucks County.
Keystone First worked with their partnering providers (federally qualified health centers and physician practices) in their neighboring towns to provide an opportunity for members to get screened and to close their gaps in care.
Keystone First routinely works with physician practices and ancillary groups based on the highest volume of Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) for non-compliance rates. They assist them in getting members in for their recommended health screenings (mammography, Pap smears, diabetic A1c), provide health education, and provide resources for obtaining medical care.
This is Lower Bucks Hospital’s first time teaming up with Keystone First to offer mammograms to their members, which resulted in completing 11 Keystone First member breast cancer screenings. Lower Bucks Hospital previously partnered with the Linda Creed Foundation, which offered free and low-cost mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women.
During the screening, a Keystone First representative was on-site, greeting members and visitors by setting up a table to display various health education literature, plan signature programs and initiatives, provide resources, discuss plan benefits, and distribute promotional items to all who were interested.
“At Keystone First, our mission is to help people get care, stay well, and build healthy communities,” said a spokesperson for Keystone First. “We are always looking for opportunities to serve our members and providers in the communities.”
“The incredible response from this screening indicates that there is a need, and we are pleased to offer this to our community,” said Michael D. Mignone, RT, Radiology Director of Medical Imaging at Lower Bucks Hospital. “Our commitment reflects our unwavering dedication to ensuring that health care is a right, not a privilege. Let us stand together to support those women and men who may otherwise have been overlooked and have a possible cancer go undetected.”
The goal of having a mammogram is to find cancers in their early stages when they’re most likely to be treated successfully. Barriers to cancer screening may include lack of insurance or money for out-of-pocket expenses, transportation to a health care provider, or the availability to take care during business hours.
Mignone added, “Early detection is key, and today’s mammograms are quick and highly reliable. Thank you to Keystone First for partnering with us; we are honored to participate in such a wonderful event.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that one out of eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), breast cancer may occur in men at any age but usually occurs in men between 60 and 70 years of age.
It’s important to get regular breast exams because early detection is your best chance to find cancer in its early stages. According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early and hasn’t spread, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Breast cancer that’s found early is easier to treat successfully.
More information (Keystone First Members):
If Keystone First members were unable to be available for their scheduled appointment, a Keystone First representative will assist them with the rescheduling process. The member needs to reach out to the provider scheduling line where they can set a new appointment.
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About Lower Bucks Hospital: Lower Bucks Hospital is a community hospital, serving the Lower Bucks County region with medical, surgical, and emergency care. Located in historic Bristol, Pennsylvania, the Hospital is well-known for its knowledgeable medical staff, including cardiology, orthopedics, radiology, wound care, and general surgery. The hospital has more than 200 physicians on staff, as well as another 700 employees. As part of Prime Healthcare Services, headquartered in Ontario, California, Lower Bucks Hospital is focused on becoming one of the leaders in technology.
Prime Healthcare is an award-winning hospital management company operating 45 acute care hospitals in 14 states, including Roxborough Memorial Hospital in Philadelphia, Lower Bucks Hospital in Bristol, and Suburban Community Hospital in Montgomery County.
About Prime Healthcare and Prime Healthcare Foundation: Prime Healthcare is an award-winning health system operating 45 hospitals and more than 300 outpatient locations in 14 states, providing over 2.6 million patient visits annually. It is one of the nation’s leading health systems with nearly 50,000 employees and physicians dedicated to providing the highest quality healthcare. Fourteen of the Prime Healthcare hospitals are members of the Prime Healthcare Foundation, a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit public charity. Based in Ontario, California, Prime Healthcare is nationally recognized for award-winning quality care and has been named a Top 10 and Top 15 Health System by IBM Watson Health. Its hospitals have been named among the nation’s “100 Top Hospitals” 58 times and have received more Patient Safety Excellence Awards from Healthgrades than any other health system in the past six years. To learn more, please visit www.primehealthcare.com
About Keystone First: Keystone First is a Medical Assistance (Medicaid) managed care health plan that was founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1982 to help people get care, stay well, and build healthy communities. Today, we remain committed to that mission.
Headquartered in Philadelphia, Keystone First offers all the benefits and services of regular Medical Assistance. We also offer special programs and benefits for our members. We aim to provide a medical home that helps our members access the services they need. And we provide extensive programs to help our members prevent illness and injury so they can live fuller lives.
