If you have questions, updates or additions to this list, please contact Laura at lmiller@beckershealthcare.com.
Southgate (Mich.) Surgery Center. During the month of March, Southgate Surgery Center offered its complementary colonoscopy program, which allowed 21 qualified applicants from Michigan to receive screenings free of charge. The free screenings went to patients who were 50 years or older, uninsured or could not otherwise afford the procedure. The program was implemented as part of National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. "Our Colorectal Cancer Month program makes a difference for the underserved in our community and we are proud to offer it in conjunction with our physicians and suppliers," said Administrator Linda Phillips, RN, in a news release. For uninsured patients who did not qualify for the free program, the ASC uses ColonoscopyAssist to subsidize a large portion of the fees.
Iowa Endoscopy Center (Clive). For the past several years, the Iowa Endoscopy Center has collaborated with John Stoddard Cancer Center and other area clinics and physicians to provide uninsured patients with free colonoscopy screenings as part of the "Scope It Out" program. The program took place in April this past year. The Iowa Endoscopy Center is accredited by the Joint Commission and certified by Medicare. In 2010, it became the first endoscopy center in the state to be recognized for quality and safety by the American Society Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. The medical staff includes 10 physicians.
East Side Endoscopy (New York City). This endoscopy center has a commitment to free screening colonoscopies to uninsured patients or patients with limited ability to pay. The center partners with community-based health centers to provide free screenings. In addition to the screenings, the ASC's staff and surgeons are committed to raising awareness and providing education about colonoscopy screening and cancer prevention to their community. This ASC, which began operations in 2009 at its 8,500-square-foot facility, is accredited by the AAAHC. It includes four procedure rooms and 14 beds in the recovery area. There are 22 physician owners of this ASC.
Manhattan Endoscopy Center (New York City). Earlier this year, Manhattan Endoscopy Center partnered with Settlement Health and The Bowery Mission to expand its free colonoscopy program for uninsured patients. Throughout March, Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, the physicians expanded their charitable program to include additional free screenings. The program includes colon cancer screening in addition to other cancer screenings during the month of March. Manhattan Endoscopy Center includes 20 physicians and has AAAHC accreditation.
Endosocopy & Surgery Center (Portage, Mich.). Led by West Michigan Cancer Center, a new colonoscopy screening awareness campaign in Kalamazoo County provides colonoscopies for 50 uninsured people and a free health fair. Endoscopy & Surgery Center within Borgess at Woodbridge Hills participated in the program, along with other facilities. The AAAHC-accredited center includes two endoscopy rooms. The multispecialty ASC is home to otolaryngology, orthopedics and podiatry in addition to gastroenterology services.
Ohio Gastroenterology Group (Columbus). The Ohio Gastroenterology Group, which began in 1996, has participated in the Physicians Care Connection, a large provider of free care in the state, to provide free colonoscopies. The program aims to screen 12 qualified individuals each month who are uninsured. The group participates in several charitable events, including sponsoring the "Run 4 the Health of It" event to provide assistance to the underserved population in Ohio and the 2013 Columbus Take Steps for Crohns & Colitis walk for a cure. The group includes 30 physicians and five endoscopy center locations.