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In This Issue:
REACH 2010 Provides Women Better Access to Health Care
Josefina Roques’ work as a women’s case manager at Brookside Community Health Center depicts the very essence of successful community outreach at BWH. Roques is a pivotal member of Brookside’s staff and a linchpin for the Center’s REACH 2010 program, a grant-funded research program that aims to provide better access to health care for underserved women in the community.
REACH—which stands for Racial, Ethnic Approaches to Community Health—is specifically geared to connect black women and other women of African decent with case management services. Overall, the program’s goal and Roques’ charge, is to reduce discrepancies in health care by assuring adequate care. REACH’s specific objective to meet this goal is to increase breast and cervical cancer screenings and follow-up care.
“The REACH program gives me the opportunity to connect underserved women with the health services they need. At Brookside, we want to reduce fragmentation and serve as a link to appropriate health services,” said Roques, who works alongside five other caseworkers at other community health centers to carry out REACH’s mission.
Patient Ligelia Baez is a prime example of REACH’s impact and Roques’ commitment to its mission. Without Roques’ encouragement to help Baez seek necessary follow-up treatment to an abnormal pap smear, Baez would have been faced with a serious medical obstacle. Baez, who works full-time and is a single mother of three and part-time student, had an abnormal pap smear in August 2002, and required a follow-up colposcopy. However, as many women in similar situations, Baez put her children’s health care needs ahead of her own and ignored the need for follow-up treatment. However, Roques made sure Baez got the medical attention and support needed. The result was thankfully a positive medical prognosis.
“Josefina made something that was terrifying, manageable for me. She talked me through what to expect with the procedure and lent me much emotional support,” said Baez.
As a case manager, Roques is also available to help women connect with services beyond health care—like housing, transportation and childcare.
“Josefina is a valuable resource to many women in our community. She helps them with social issues, and she develops a trusting relationship with them,” said Elizabeth Scanlan, RNC, NP, nurse manager at Brookside. “There are many lifestyle issues that Josefina can help them improve upon.”
True to her special form, Roques was also able to help Baez’s ten-year-old son and another family from the REACH program during the holiday season. A youth group at Sacred Heart Church in Roslindale was able to raise money to buy them clothing and gifts.
“In many ways, Josefina goes above-and-beyond for women living at the margins,” added Scanlan.