Earlier this year “Maria” was referred from her FQHC clinic to Lestonnac Free Clinic, when her yearly colon cancer stool test came back positive. She was immediately scheduled with one of Lestonnac’s telemedicine gastroenterologists, who also happens to be one of Lestonnac’s volunteer surgeons. Maria was surprised with how quickly the process went from her April appointment with the GI doctor, to her colonoscopy in May.

During her procedure she had multiple polyps removed and a biopsy taken of her rectum. It turned out that those polyps were cancerous and it was caught just in time. Due to the diagnosis of cancer, her GI doctor recommended they perform the colonoscopy once more to ensure that all polyps were removed. Maria was overjoyed that she was able to get an appointment so quickly and catch the cancer early enough to be removed.

She is now back at her home clinic for follow up care, where she will be able to keep up with her yearly colonoscopies in order to keep a watchful eye that no cancerous polyps reappear. Lestonnac’s partnerships with the surrounding FCHC clinics establishes Lestonnac as the specialty care hub for uninsured patients. The telemedicine program creates a convenience for providers allowing them to see more patients. It is through the abundant availability of appointments that Maria was able to get the care she needed quickly and efficiently.