RIVERHEAD, NY – Peconic Bay Medical Center (PBMC) announced that the New York State Department of Health has approved a five-year extension to house the Cancer Services Program of Suffolk County (CSP) at PBMC to provide free cancer screening and counseling to residents who are uninsured, underinsured, or meet income eligibility requirements. The program, which focuses on breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings, expands access to high-quality health care for Suffolk County residents who might not otherwise be able to receive these essential, potentially life-saving examination.
“Having the Cancer Services Program at Peconic Bay Medical Center is a key aspect of our mission to expand access to advanced health care throughout Eastern Suffolk County,” said Amy Loeb, EdD, MBA, RN, PBMC executive director . “Some cancers, particularly breast, cervical and colon cancer, often show no early symptoms, so screenings serve as a safe route to early diagnosis. We look forward to continuing to expand access to these lifesaving services that all Suffolk County residents deserve.”
The Suffolk County Cancer Services Program at PBMC is funded by the New York Department of Health and takes a proactive approach to patient care with screenings, diagnostic testing and individualized cancer treatment plans for breast, cervical and colon cancers . If a screening detects an abnormality, CSP will provide a case manager to guide customers through their next diagnostic appointments. Since 2005, the Suffolk County Cancer Services Program at Peconic Bay Medical Center has provided 38,547 people with access to screening services and received treatment services for more than 600 people diagnosed with these cancers.
The United States Preventive Services Task Force advises the following groups to begin regular screening for each of the respective cancers: women age 40 or older or at high risk for breast cancer women age 40 or older for cervical cancer uterus and women and men aged 45 and over for colon cancer.
Cancer screening and diagnostic services are available at no cost to people who live in New York State, do not have health insurance, or have health insurance with cost-sharing that may prevent a person from receiving screening and/or diagnostic services, meeting the income eligibility requirements and meet the age requirements. To learn more about what to expect from screenings and additional support options, visit pbmchealth.org/care-centers-services/services/cancer-services. For more information about Peconic Bay Medical Center, visit pbmchealth.org.
About Peconic Bay Medical Center
Located in Riverhead, New York, Peconic Bay Medical Center is a 144-bed not-for-profit hospital committed to providing excellent care and improving the health of the communities it serves. Peconic Bay Medical Center offers broad-spectrum, full-scope services and programs, including advanced surgical, cardiac, orthopedic and women's health care, comprehensive inpatient medical care, palliative care and a wide range of outpatient services, along with state-of-the-art technology . Peconic Bay Medical Center joined Northwell Health in 2016. For more information, visit PBMCHealth.org and follow us @PeconicBayMedicalCenter on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
