One Community Health Center’s Solution: Mega Day, Mega Opportunities for Cancer Screening
As part of their commitment to accessible health care, Kintegra Health has launched a new program to connect with patients who might otherwise fall through the cracks. Instead of asking patients to navigate multiple cancer screening appointments at different locations, Kintegra bring services together in a family-friendly, convenient location close to where patients live. This novel cancer screening event is called Mega Day.
Kintegra serves more than 100,000 patients from underserved communities across North Carolina, from the greater Charlotte metro area and the Appalachian foothills to the edge of the Piedmont Triad. About 80% of patients live at or below the federal poverty level. Kintegra saw that helping patients stay current on cancer screening required more than reminder systems and offering them low or no-cost care. Patients said travel to specialty clinics, their jobs, and family obligations made it hard to keep appointments. “Mega Day is important because it offers patients the opportunity to stay up to date with their health screenings in a single day, rather than having to make multiple visits to the doctor and travel to different locations,” Ruth Brigantty, Health Promotion Coordinator.
Mega Day Impact
During a single visit, patients can complete multiple screenings and meet with health educators and community resource advocates. They can even bring their children to enjoy games, refreshments, and learn about healthy habits. Since 2024, Kintegra has hosted 8 Mega Days at different service area locations, providing:
- 166 mammograms in partnership with mobile mammography units
- 111 cervical cancer screenings provided by their own clinicians
- 81 lung cancer screenings in partnership with a lung cancer screening unit
- 127 patients received colorectal cancer screening navigation
More than 45 patients completed multiple screenings in their single visit, showcasing the value of bringing services together in one place, especially for patients who are overdue for multiple screenings. In 2025, Kintegra achieved cancer screening rates higher than the state average for FQHC’s.