Cancer and Tobacco Control Initiative for Community Health Centers
As the Primary Health Care Association , NCCHCA stays abreast of issues facing community health centers and their patient populations. Cancer and tobacco control interventions are long over due in North Carolina. Our rich history and dependence on tobacco as the backbone of our agrarian economy has left us behind the curve on statewide planning. A multi-disciplinary and focused analysis of the cancer and tobacco use rates and impact began in 2000 and resulted in the creation of statewide plans and now stands ready to integrate suggested protocols and strategies into the health care delivery methodologies of our 27 Community and Migrant Health Center members.
In alignment with the State's Cancer and Tobacco Control Goals, our aim is to promote intervention methods, best practices and eliminate disparities by improving the health related norms of populations more adversely affected. Our primary method for intervention is to educate Community Health Centers and their clinical staff on cancer prevention practices and tobacco cessation.
The proposed work plan includes activities that will achieve the short-term goal of increasing the communication and resource dissemination between the state cancer and tobacco control coalitions and Community Health Centers. Our long-term goal is a reduction in smoking rates among patients at NC Community Health Centers; to increase the number of mammogram screenings performed at Community Health Centers; to incorporate cancer screeening follow-up measures into patient services; and increase the number of Pap testing performed at Community Health Centers.