November 13 2020 – Susan G. Komen®, the world’s leading breast cancer organization, is strengthening its commitment to support breast cancer patients across the state of Florida, leveraging technology and operational efficiencies to maximize its impact. While the COVID-19 pandemic has created economic challenges for many people and organizations, Komen is applying lessons learned during the pandemic to change how it operates across the country, including in Florida, focusing local efforts on fundraising and patient support to meet the most critical and evolving needs of breast cancer patients today.
“People need Komen now, more than ever – and we will continue to be here for them,” said Sean Gross, Komen’s executive director of Florida. “In this increasingly interconnected world, it is important to meet people where they live and where they access care. Our transition is centered on getting closer to patients, no matter where they live, to ensure they get the support they need – now and in a post-pandemic world.”
One of the key lessons of the pandemic is the need to embrace technology to create efficiencies and to enable people to work in new ways. By moving to an entirely remote workforce, we can provide additional flexibility and safe practices for staff located across the state, and increase collaboration with colleagues across the country, while reducing operational costs from office space obligations and leveraging centralized administrative functions.
The changes in Florida are part of the Komen organization’s transition from a federated business model of independent affiliates to a single, united entity, which was announced in April, to increase operational efficiency and impact. For Komen in Florida, these changes build upon efforts to unify state resources begun in 2018, when the local Affiliates across the state joined forces to form a statewide Affiliate, known as Susan G. Komen Florida, bringing together 64 of 67 counties served under one umbrella. The pandemic accelerated the need to increase efficiencies and effectiveness, while keeping life-saving services in local communities in place.
Komen will maintain a dedicated Florida support team of up to seven staff members, working across the state, in addition to other Florida-based Komen staff who are part of Komen’s centralized marketing, mission and operations teams. Komen will continue to host Race for the Cure® and MORE THAN PINK Walk® fundraising events across the state, which bring thousands of patients and survivors together in local communities to share a moment of hope and raise funds for Komen’s lifesaving work. These events were hosted virtually this Spring and Fall due to health concerns related to COVID-19.
Komen will continue to focus on fighting breast cancer through its 360-degree approach, encompassing:
•Innovative breakthrough research, leveraging technology and Big Data to accelerate discoveries to find the cures and save lives. There are currently five active grants in Florida, including two at the Jacksonville campus of the Mayo Clinic.
•Advocacy, harnessing the power of grassroots supporters to ensure wide-ranging patient rights to life-saving cancer care and continued investment in research. Past Florida efforts have included preserving the state’s Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (FBCCEDP) to ensure funding for potentially life-saving breast cancer screening and diagnostic services to low-income, uninsured and underinsured women who do not qualify for Medicaid.
•Direct patient support, working with key stakeholders in local communities to deliver direct patient services, such as screening, diagnostics and treatment, and achieving health equity through partnerships, collaboration and systems change. As examples, Komen’s Treatment Assistance Program provides vital financial assistance to pay for expenses associated with going through breast cancer treatment, including medications, psychosocial support, child/elder care, food and transportation. In Florida, Komen has also recently made an additional $50,000 investment into the fund to meet the increased local need created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Diagnostic services are also available for uninsured women at Bethesda Hospital, Lakeside Medical Center, Martin Memorial Hospital and Orlando Health because of Komen dollars. And Komen’s Patient Navigation Program continues to walk hand-in-hand with patients through the continuum of care.
Komen is increasing its focus on patient navigation, building on the success of its efforts in Florida, where 170 patients have been navigated through the health care continuum since August of 2019. In addition, prior to the pandemic shut down 18 in-person community outreach events reaching 631 people and 15 in-person educational sessions reaching 301 people were conducted.
These efforts will be expanded nationally in the future, leveraging technology to provide access to a patient navigator regardless of where you live.
Added Gross, “we are seeing this need continue to grow and we are stepping up to meet the need. We remain committed to the fight against breast cancer and won’t stop until we can save every life.”
To learn more about Susan G. Komen, please visit www.komen.org.
About Susan G. Komen®
Susan G. Komen® is the world’s leading nonprofit breast cancer organization, working to save lives and end breast cancer forever. Komen has an unmatched, comprehensive 360-degree approach to fighting this disease across all fronts and supporting millions of people in the U.S. and in countries worldwide. We advocate for patients, drive research breakthroughs, improve access to high-quality care, offer direct patient support and empower people with trustworthy information. Born out of a promise between two sisters, Susan G. Komen remains committed to supporting those affected by breast cancer today, while tirelessly searching for tomorrow’s cures.
