FAQs

The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention builds on an existing framework of patient navigation services for Washington, D.C., area residents. The center coordinates services for screenings for breast, lung, colon and prostate cancer throughout the city. 

We are committed to reducing the burden of cancer among underserved populations in our community. Through our work with our academic health system partner, MedStar Health, and its relationship with DC Primary Care Association, patient navigators connect DC residents to screening services at locations around the city, with the goal of making it more convenient to take advantage of life-saving screening. Patient navigators will guide those who might need additional follow-up. 

No, our patient navigators will help clients find a screening location convenient to them.

Yes. The Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention will provide the same services as the Capital Breast Cancer Center, and more. We will still work with area hospitals and facilities to provide convenient mammography services, but we will offer access to screening services for lung, prostate and colorectal cancers as well. The Ralph Lauren Center will continue to conduct educational outreach in the community to increase the number of people who seek and receive potentially life-saving cancer screening.

A generous grant from the Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation has funded programs at institutions with a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designation that are aimed at reducing disparities in cancer care and access across underserved communities in the United States.

Yes, the Ralph Lauren Center works with area resources and foundations to assist patients needing screening services. The Affordable Care Act has increased the number of people covered by health insurance, which allows our residents to have increased access to care facilities in the area. For those who don’t have insurance, we will continue to explore other ways to assist uninsured people to pay for screening.

Yes, RLC navigators will continue to lead community activities and navigate patients for screening and treatment services. Our van, sporting the Ralph Lauren Center logo, will still be used to provide transportation to community sites for those purposes.

Yes, Maryland and Virginia patients will continue to be navigated for cancer screening services through their state-, federal-, or insurance-funded programs. RLC patient navigators will continue to connect patients diagnosed with cancer with local providers participating in those plans.

Yes, the expansion of screening services allows researchers to better measure the effectiveness of navigators in this role. They’ll ask questions such as: Does having more navigators increase the number of people getting cancer screening? Does early diagnosis and treatment improve the outcome of those diagnosed? Have more people come under the care of a primary care physician? And does that make an impact on health outcomes?

Please call our patient navigators to schedule your appointment for screening and navigation services at 202-687-5367 (se habla español) and one of our patient navigators will contact you.