Healthcare Access

Back to Main Page

Purpose and Target Population

  • This service expands access to annual screening mammograms for patients in rural and underserved areas of Maine.  

  • It brings this life-saving option to patients where they live, helping eliminate the need for travel. 

Planning and Implementation

  • As part of MaineHealth, Healthy Community Coalition developed the Franklin County Syringe Services Program (FCSSP) as an integrated program within the local Franklin Community Health Network, embedding evidence-based harm reduction services into an established rural healthcare system.

  • The program leveraged existing clinical infrastructure and a Mobile Health Unit, while strategically planning service locations and outreach to address community needs, transportation barriers, geographical considerations, and gaps in access to healthcare resources across Franklin County.

  • The FCSSP has built a collaborative network of healthcare providers, behavioral health agencies, recovery organizations, public health partners, emergency responders, law enforcement, and community organizations to strengthen referral pathways, while trained care team members deliver evidence-based harm reduction services and connect participants with healthcare and community resources.

  • The program maintains consistent service locations, hours, and outreach efforts to build trust, strengthen community relationships, and encourage ongoing member engagement.

  • The FCSSP uses participant feedback, program data, and continuous quality improvement processes to evaluate program effectiveness and refine services in response to evolving rural community needs.

Best Practices

  • When building the unit, keep the total weight in mind, as that factor leads to what type of driver’s license is required. 

  • We installed self-contained Wi-Fi which can be inconsistent at times, limiting how much can be done electronically vs manually. It requires a constant readiness to pivot to paper workflows and manual data entry.   

Challenges and Solutions

  • Network access continues to be a challenge. When the team reverts to paper, it slows down efficiency and can lead to follow up calls to ensure all the right info was documented at the time of imaging.   

  • We found that partnering with a dedicated organization such as a primary care office or other healthcare facility is most beneficial. Providers often have a list of eligible patients due for their annual screening mammogram, so we can fill our schedule ahead of the visit. This plan ensures the cost of the unit and staffing is used to its fullest advantage. 

  • Mammography image file sizes are very large and often cannot be sent while on the road. We need to wait until we can log on to the main network to send to the radiologist for interpretation.  

Resources and Tools

Contact

  • Jen Castonguay (207) 564-4241 

Northern Light Mobile Mammography 

The Mobile Mammography Unit is a collaboration between Northern Light CA Dean Hospital in Greenville and Northern Light Mayo Hospital in Dover-Foxcroft and part of Northern Light Imaging in Dover-Foxcroft. It travels to locations throughout Maine, including Northern Light-affiliated practices and independent health centers.