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Deaconess News

The American Cancer Society Awards $7,500 Grant to Deaconess Health System

5/24/2022
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently awarded $5.7 million in transportation grant funding to over 400 health systems to alleviate the financial burden of transportation for cancer patients.
 
The American Cancer Society (ACS) recently awarded $5.7 million in transportation grant funding to over 400 health systems to alleviate the financial burden of transportation for cancer patients. Based on assistance provided through previous grant funding, these grants will provide more than 228,000 rides to treatment for nearly 17,000 people. 
 
Deaconess Cancer Services was the recipient of a $7,500 transportation grant to support those facing a cancer diagnosis in the Tri-State community.  “We are grateful to the American Cancer Society for helping our patients overcome one of the largest barriers to care in our communities: transportation,” said Angie Stroud MSN, RN, CMSRN, NE-BC, Infusion Manager, Deaconess Cancer Services.
 
For cancer patients, transportation challenges can create a barrier to receiving the treatment they need. Many people need daily or weekly treatment, often over the course of several months. Family and friends may help, but they may not always have the time or resources to provide every ride, which can create a barrier to cancer treatment.
 
“Some patients don’t have access to transportation or are too fatigued or sick to drive themselves,” said Dr. Kathy Goss, regional vice president of Cancer Control for the American Cancer Society.  “The Society collaborates with hospital partners to reach individuals in areas with high burdens of cancer and limited or no access to transportation because even the best treatment can’t work if a patient can’t get there. ACS patient support initiatives, such as transportation grants, fill critical gaps and are aligned with the ACS goal of improving lives for patients with cancer, caregivers, and the community.”
 
 “The grant funds will help Deaconess patients struggling with transportation to get to physician appointments, radiation therapy treatments, and infusion appointments” said Stroud. Deaconess Case Managers and Patient Navigators will help identify and work with patients experiencing transportation barriers.
 
The American Cancer Society is working to increase access and remove barriers to timely, high-quality cancer care for patients and families. The transportation grant program provides funding directly to local health systems and partners who deliver assistance directly to their patients when and where it’s needed most.
 
The American Cancer Society believes all people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer regardless of how much money they make, skin color, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or where they live. This means providing specific tools and resources based on individual needs to allow everyone the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
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