PROSTATE CANCER EQUITY PROGRAM IN MASSACHUSETTS:

OUR PROGRAM CAN ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR PROSTATE HEALTH: 

Before and after screening, biopsy and treatment:

• Are you at higher risk of cancer because of your family history (particularly your father or brother), Black heritage and/or older age (50 and older)?
• Are you interested in cancer prevention and early detection, which is critical for saving lives?
• Do you know that early stages of prostate cancer cause no symptoms?
• Are you looking for more information to decide if screening with PSA blood test is right for you?
• Did you have screening already and have questions about your results?
• Do you have troubling symptoms, such as difficulties urinating or blood in your urine?
• Did your doctor recommend for you to have a prostate biopsy, and you would like to learn more about advanced non-invasive tests?
• Did your doctor tell you that you have prostate cancer, and you are looking for more information about treatment options?
• Did you experience side effects after biopsy or treatment?
• Did you have treatment already and have questions about the appropriate next steps, including prevention or early diagnosis of cancer return or progression?

* This program serves any individual who was assigned male sex at birth.

SUPPORTING MEN DURING EVERY STEP OF THEIR MEDICAL JOURNEY:

We developed a streamlined VIP-style process for patient referral and care to ensure that men are supported during their medical journey every step of the way. This includes any aspect of care – from expediting medical appointments to ensuring appropriate next steps (e.g. testing or treatment), when recommended by doctors. This process was created for two reasons:

1. To follow a model of patient care used by our doctors for their families and friends; and
2. To address unacceptable breakdowns for patients trying to get medical appointments or to follow doctors’ recommendations. These breakdowns reflect concerns of many men and their caregivers about the difficulties navigating health care systems and dealing with schedulers in busy physicians’ offices. 

VIP-STYLE PROCESS FOR PATIENT REFERRAL AND CARE:

All men are served in the following manner:

1. An administrative coordinator at AdMeTech Foundation collects basic information and matches patients’ needs with the health care system;
2. The chosen health care system designates a patient navigator who works with multiple schedulers and expedites a medical appointment (in-person or virtual); and
3. If the consulting expert recommends further testing or treatment, AdMeTech’s staff works with the designated healthcare system’s navigator and patients to ensure the appropriate follow up.

MEN WHO DO NOT HAVE MEDICAL INSURANCE:

Massachusetts offers universal health coverage. Latino Health Insurance Program (LHIP) provides assistance for men who reside in Massachusetts and are interested in obtaining MassHealth. Please contact Christy Rodriguez, LHIP’s Manager of Patient Navigator, Care Coordination Program by phone 508-875-1237, fax 617-875-1261 or email help@lhiprogram.org. To facilitate response, we would recommend to fill out and fax the LHIP Form.

WHAT IS ADMETECH FOUNDATION’S ROLE:

Our leaders and staff members do not provide or bill for health services. We stand ready to provide any educational, administrative and logistical support men, their primary care doctors or caregivers may require, including –

1. Working with medical professionals to expedite a visit with an expert; and
2. Assisting with any follow up and next steps, as needed.

RATIONALE AND BACKGROUND:

Prostate cancer, striking as many as 1 in 8 American men, is the most common and the second most lethal male malignancy. Prostate cancer is a leading health disparity. Compared to White men, Black (including Hispanic) men are –

1. 2.5 times more likely to die, even though early detection saves lives;
2. At a higher risk of unnecessary procedures (e.g., biopsies and treatment); and
3. Less likely to get a life-saving treatment.

AdMeTech Foundation has been leading groundbreaking prostate cancer programs in public awareness, medical education, research, advocacy and reducing health inequalities for over 25 years.

In September 2021, 5^th Annual Global Summit on Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Prostate Cancer brought together the key opinion leaders, representing every clinical expertise involved in patient care. In addition to providing medical education, this Summit developed recommendations on the best emerging clinical practices and reducing health inequalities.

The Summit’s Health Disparities Panel highlighted equal access to high quality care as the key pathway to health equity. This Panel underscored the importance of equal access to the recent advances in patient care, which are currently available to a limited number of experts and include:

1. Accurate diagnostic tools for improving early detection of aggressive prostate cancer, reducing unnecessary procedures, and ensuring personalized approach to patient care; and
2. Novel treatment, making it possible to administer less invasive and/or more effective interventions.

The steps we have undertaken so far:

1. Mobilized leading clinical experts across the state who can provide the best available patient care;
2. Retained several Community Coordinators who have assembled over 55 Program Ambassadors – volunteers with extensive personal and organizational networks in Black, Hispanic and Portuguese communities;
3. Held 5 focus groups to develop program description and related materials, appropriate for general public or primary care physicians;
4. Launched PCE Program at the 13^th Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Day on March 31, 2022; and
5. Have been creating a network of the community partners to inform men, their caregivers and primary care doctors about this program.

LEADERSHIP AND PARTICIPATING PHYSICIANS

FOUNDERS:

Bio

Faina Shtern, MD
President and CEO, AdMeTech Foundation

Bio

Adam Feldman, MD, MPH
Urologist, Massachusetts General Hospital; Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School; and Director, Combined Harvard Urologic Oncology Fellowship

Bio

Quoc-Dien Trinh, MD
Co-Director, Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women’s Prostate Cancer Program; Director, Ambulatory Clinical Operations, Division of Urological Surgery; and Associate Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

OTHER SELECTED PARTICIPATING EXPERTS (in alphabetical order):

Bio

Ryan E. Frankel, MD
Greater Boston Urology

Bio

Mitchell Sokoloff, MD
Professor and Chair of Urology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Stephen Zappala, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor, Department of Urology, Tufts University School of Medicine

This program was established by AdMeTech Foundation in collaboration with Mass General Brigham

Participating Organizations:
Latino Health Insurance Program, NAACP New England Area Conference