June 26 2019: The full report of the Hispanic/Latino Community Cancer Meeting is now available. Read the Report…
April 15, 2019: The Penn State Cancer Institute (PSCI) is working to better understand the cancer problem in central Pennsylvania. PSCI aims to to identify strategies that can help the community avoid cancer, and if cancer does occur, to beat it! You can help by taking the Community Health Survey! Read more…
January 20, 2019: The Community Sciences and Health Outcomes (CSHO) Shared Resource at the Penn State Cancer Institute is developing a new research study on patient navigation for adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients and survivors. The study’s aims will be to better understand patient navigation preferences for AYA cancer services and will be structured similarly to a recent study published in the Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. If you are interested in learning more about the study or getting involved in this research opportunity, please contact Dr. Eugene Lengerich at elengerich@psu.edu or (717) 531-7178.
January 5, 2019: January is “Cervical Cancer Awareness” month. As a patient navigator, this month is an ideal time to consider ways in which you can best support your patients with a cervical cancer diagnosis. Read more…
December 11, 2018: On November 3rd, 2018 the Penn State Cancer Institute (PSCI) hosted the 9th Annual Cancer Education Summit at the I.W. Abel Hall in Steelton, PA. The theme, Be Inspired, Take Charge, and Navigate Your Health, was selected to motivate and inspire participants toward positive personal choices. Read more…
November 13, 2018: UPDATE: The AWARE study is a randomized study to test the feasibility of patient navigation, an evidence-based, patient-centered approach to overcome barriers to cancer-related care, for women with dense breast tissue. Preliminary results show that this navigation is a feasible option to improve knowledge, attitude, and behaviors for women with dense breast tissue. Initial results also show that navigation helped resolve the barriers that participants report; however, not every participant indicated that they had barriers to address. Read more…
October 23, 2018: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, along with St. Joseph Medical Center and Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute, has completed the third Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA). Read more…
September 6, 2018: You can now download the slide deck from the Evaluation of Patient Navigation Programs Training Webinar on August 28, 2018. Download slide deck here…
August 23, 2018: Penn State’s first cancer-related Story Map has launched. This Story Map presents cancer in the 28-county catchment area of the Penn State Cancer Institute, especially from the perspective of three populations – those who live in rural communities, Hispanics/Latinos, and African Americans/Blacks. The Story Map also highlights patient navigation, a barrier-focused, personal intervention for cancer-related care, as part of the solution to the cancer burden. Read more…
August 20, 2018: Navigator Training Opportunity – Evaluation of Patient Navigation Programs
August 28, 2018 | 12 Noon – 1 PM EST | Online Webinar
Access the Webinar here…
August 14, 2018: The AWARE Study – A Randomized Feasibility Study of Patient Navigation for Women Identified with Dense Breast Tissue on Breast Cancer Screening Mammography. New research being conducted investigators with the Department of Public Health Sciences, Radiology, Family and Community Medicine, in conjunction with the Penn State Breast Center and the Penn State Cancer Institute. Read more…
May 7, 2018: The Latino population is considered the fastest-growing racial/ethnic group in the United States and it is necessary to address and eliminate the challenges and barriers that Latinos face in the public health sector, particularly in the state of Pennsylvania. What better way to do this, than by bringing people together, from all areas of healthcare, who want to make a positive impact on the overall health of the Latino community. Read more…
March 13, 2018: January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, but let’s not forget the importance of preventing cervical cancer all through the year! Hear from Research Specialist, Joanne Sullivan, RN, BSN, on how Cervical cancer can be found early and prevented. Read more…
February 23, 2018: Results from the January 2018 Patient Navigator Survey are in. Read more…
January 15, 2018: Patient Navigators can take advantage of The Patient Navigator Training Collaborative, which offers self-paced eLearning courses that are free of charge and available anytime. Visit their website for more information: http://patientnavigatortraining.org/courses/elearning-courses/
November 4, 2017: 8th Annual Cancer Education Summit – The Penn State Cancer Institute held its 8th Annual Cancer Education Summit in Harrisburg, PA. Our theme this year was “Primary Care.” We emphasized the importance of the basic office visit to your primary care physician. This is most often the point where our medical issues will be discovered or dealt with initially. Read more…
July 23, 2017: Link between income inequality and physical activity for women, but not for men– A recent paper finds that women from areas with high income inequality are less likely to meet overall physical activity recommendations than men from the same geographical area.
July 21, 2017: Announcement: Community Preventive Services Task Force Recommendations for Multicomponent Interventions to Increase Breast, Cervical, and Colorectal Cancer Screening– The Community Preventive Services Task Force recently posted on its website new information regarding recommendations for multicomponent interventions for three different cancers: breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer.
July 13, 2017: New CDC Report Shows Cancer Death Rates Are Higher in Rural America– Despite decreases in cancer death rates nationwide, a new report from the CDC shows slower reduction in cancer death rates in rural America (a decrease of 1.0% per year) compared with urban America (a decrease of 1.6% per year).
July 3, 2017: Couch potatoes face increased risk of kidney and bladder cancers– Being inactive could raise your risk for both kidney cancer and bladder cancer, a new study suggests
June 30, 2017: False-positive mammogram results linked to spike in anxiety prescriptions– Women who experience a false-positive mammogram result are more likely to begin medication for anxiety or depression than women who received an immediate negative result, according to a study led by Penn State researcher Joel Segel.