(0216) Establishment of a Virtual Oropharyngeal Cancer Screening at a Free Healthcare Clinic for Uninsured Populations

Introduction: Head and neck cancer screening is not generally performed in primary care visits. Access to healthcare is limited to patients who are uninsured and/or live in an underserved area. This disparity is even more pronounced for those seeking access to specialty care, such as otolaryngology, due to a lack of resources and the limitation of time of specialists. As a result, patients in these underserved areas are unable to access adequate screenings that can identify head and neck cancer early on in its course. We set out to develop and implement a head and neck cancer screening program at a free cost primary healthcare clinic serving uninsured patients in our area.

Methods: We utilized the screening forms provided by the Head and Neck Cancer Alliance and converted the form into an online questionnaire utilizing a HIPAA-compliant online survey. This screening program was established at a previously established free healthcare clinic. Screening questionnaires were conducted by volunteer medical students. Patients who presented to the clinic had an option to participate in the screening, and any concerning physical exam findings, such as visible lesions and masses, were documented. Questionnaire results were reviewed by a fellowship-trained head and neck cancer surgeon. All patients who were deemed high-risk by the surgeon were referred to the ENT clinic for further workup. Intermediate-risk and low-risk patients were advised to continue follow-up with their primary care provider.

Results: Over the past 9 months, we have screened 71 patients. We have identified 3 high-risk individuals, 23 intermediate-risk individuals, and 45 low-risk individuals.

Conclusions: Our screening model has allowed us to provide consistent and accessible head and neck cancer screening to the most underserved populations in our city. The virtual and adaptable nature of this screening program allows it to be implemented and accessed by the most hard-to-reach and underserved populations. It provides a roadmap to better address the disparities that underserved and rural populations face in accessing head and neck cancer screenings.