Funded by The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, the two-year Madison program partners with local free clinics to increase access to PSA testing, diagnostic follow-up, and specialty care.
Project HOPE, funded by The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, has launched a two-year initiative in Madison, Wisconsin, to expand prostate cancer screening, diagnostic follow-up, care coordination, and treatment for men who are uninsured or face barriers to care.
Early detection plays a critical role in clinical outcomes for prostate cancer, yet access disparities remain prevalent in the region. According to the Dane County Community Health Needs Assessment, prostate cancer mortality rates in Dane County exceed both state and national averages, with Black men experiencing the highest age-adjusted death rate.
“This initiative is about strengthening local resources so more men can access the information, screening and follow-up care they need,” says Anna Tate, director of domestic programs at Project HOPE, in a release. “By supporting trusted community partners and creating clearer referral pathways, we can help reduce barriers for men who are uninsured or face challenges accessing care and make care easier to navigate.”
Community Screening and Diagnostic Navigation
The initiative is structured around a partnership between two local charitable providers: the Perry Family Free Clinic and the Specialty Care Free Clinic.
Under the program, the Perry Family Free Clinic will partner with local barbers to deliver education regarding prostate cancer risk and screening to men who may not routinely interact with the healthcare system. Barbers will refer individuals to the clinic for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screenings.
To support downstream clinical care, the Specialty Care Free Clinic will expand urology services through its network of volunteer urologists and deliver direct patient navigation and care coordination. This navigation program is designed to assist patients in accessing needed diagnostic testing, treatment, and follow-up care, including connecting patients to specialty providers throughout the Madison area when services cannot be performed on-site at the clinic.
By linking community-based testing with clinical follow-up, the initiative establishes a continuum of care intended to prevent patients with abnormal screening results from falling out of the diagnostic pathway.
“For patients with prostate cancer, early detection can save lives, yet too many men face barriers that keep them from the screening and follow-up care they need,” says Kathryn Kyle, president and secretary of The Labcorp Charitable Foundation, in a release. “We’re proud to support Project HOPE and these local clinics in expanding access to screening, care coordination and treatment, helping men receive the timely care that can make all the difference.”
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