OHSU's Free Screening Touches Women Across Oregon

OHSU Center for Women’s Health gives out free Pap tests; announces statewide initiative

PORTLAND, Ore. – Valori Worth, 44, scanned the lobby floor of Oregon Health & Science University’s Peter O. Kohler Pavilion, her eyes lingering on the table where several volunteers administered blood glucose tests to seated women.

Gesturing toward a woman having her hip-waist ratio measured, Worth said, “Where else could I have gone and received all of this screening? For free?”

Worth was one of nearly 100 women who received free Pap tests and attended a health screening fair in the first free cervical cancer screening event organized by the OHSU Center for Women’s Health and the brainchild of Anne Nedrow, M.D., medical director of Women’s Primary Care at the Center for Women’s Health. The event is the first in a series designed to remove barriers to health care access and the first step in a statewide campaign to eradicate cervical cancer in Oregon.

For Worth, a toll booth operator who lives in Hood River, Oregon, the ‘Free Friday’ health screening immediately captured her attention. She does not have health insurance and often lives paycheck to paycheck – a situation that doesn’t leave a lot of room for covering the cost of preventive care. “When it comes down to paying the rent, buying groceries or going to the doctor for a check-up, what do you think wins out?” she said. 

“Even though I had to drive 60 miles here and 60 miles back, it was worth the trip. I hope they continue to do this… I just feel so much better knowing I’ve been checked,” Worth said.

Joanna Cain, M.D., director of the OHSU Center for Women’s Health said, “This was a success beyond which we could have imagined. We were able to provide a direly needed service to community women who have encountered barriers to health care access.

“While we were able to screen an amazing number of women through the generous donations of our supporters and volunteers, it is all too clear to me that many, many more women remain in need of preventive care services,” Cain, professor of obstetrics and gynecology, OHSU School of Medicine.

The event required the time of over 100 volunteers, drawn from various OHSU department and the Oregon community – even drawing volunteers from as far away as Eugene.

Esther Yan, a senior majoring in community health at Portland State University, volunteered at the event, acting as a waiting room hostess for the many recipients of screenings. Echoing the sentiments expressed by many volunteers, Yan said, “I was interested in this event because I love to support women’s health. There’re a lot of women who do not have access to care.”

While appointments were scheduled for the Pap tests, the health screening fair – which included screenings such as depression, total cholesterol, non-fasting glucose, body mass index and hip-waist ratio – was open to walk-ins and those who had scheduled appointments. Further information on additional community health resources was also available at this event.

The Free Friday program is an aspect of a statewide initiative to reduce mortality rates in cervical and breast cancers. These cancers are often treatable if detected early enough.

This OHSU Center for Women’s Health program has been made possible through a partnership with women of our community who raised the funds to begin the program, the support of the OHSU Cancer Institute and volunteers from numerous OHSU departments.

More on "Free Fridays"

• For appointment inquiries, call 503 346-1212. Another Free Friday is planned for March of 2008. Please check back for information about that event.
• Read more information about Free Fridays on our Web site.
• To volunteer or donate to the cause, please use the form below.
• For press inquiries, please contact Brycie Jones at 503 494-8231.