Baptist Hospitals of SETX Foundation receives grant

Cancer patients undergoing treatment frequently require assistance getting to and from facilities, often creating a financial and logistical burden. That’s why the American Cancer Society (ACS) has awarded several access-to-care grants including a Patient Transportation Grant and Patient Lodging Grant to Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Foundation.

Nov. 1, ACS presented the Foundation with a $65,000 check at the Julie and Ben Rogers Cancer Institute. The funds will be used to address access-to-care needs of cancer patients in Southeast Texas and ultimately help save lives.

An estimated 140,000 Texas residents will learn they have cancer this year and getting to their scheduled treatment may be one of their greatest roadblocks. To help patients get the critical care they need, ACS’s Patient Transportation and Lodging Grants are awarded at a local level to health systems, treatment centers and community organizations. The grants are available in select communities through an application process and focus on addressing unmet access-to-care needs of cancer patients, particularly vulnerable populations experiencing an unequal burden of cancer.

Kathy Chessher, senior community development manager with the ACS, said they are putting the money “right back into our local communities.”

“We are so proud to be a part of this. There are people throughout our community who literally can’t get to their treatments. We all know if you can get to your treatment appointments, you have a fighting chance to beat cancer,” said Chessher.

She said ACS interviewed all their cancer center partners and discovered that the main needs for patients was transportation and lodging assistance.

Chessher said there are various reasons why patients can make their appointment and the grants will help them, especially those in the outlying areas.

She added the grants will be used at four cancer centers under the Baptist Hospital Network in Southeast Texas — Julie and Ben Rogers Cancer Institute, Altus Cancer Center, Texas Oncology Center, all in Beaumont, and the Golden Triangle Cancer Center in Port Arthur.

“These grants will be used to help patients who are receiving treatment in Southeast Texas, get to and from their appointments,” said Chessher. “ACS collaborates with community health partners to reach individuals in areas with higher burdens of cancer and with little to no access to transportation or lodging because even the best treatment can’t work if a patient can’t get there.”

Chessher said oncologist may ask patients to come several times, including back-to-back days, during the week for treatments.

“If you don’t have a place to lay your head between every night between those appointments, you’re having to drive back and forth,” she said. “It’s unbelievable just how the physical and emotional state of mind are important, but you can get really run down on those treatment days.”

Chessher said having a place to stay without the out-of-pocket expense, allows the patient to focus on their treatment and getting well.

“The transportation and lodging costs can bankrupt a family,” she added. “People don’t realize how they can mount up.”

“Some patients don’t have access to transportation at all or are too fatigued or sick to drive themselves,” said Gay-Lynne Jones, administrative director of the Baptist Cancer Network. “Access to care is a big problem in our community with low income, the elderly, and those living in rural communities suffering the most from disparities. Transportation and lodging programs are vital for these patients to get the treatments they need and deserve.”

For additional information about ACS, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.