Purpose: To emphasize barriers to patient care and outline effective strategies for enhancing patient retention through process implementation and evaluation. Methods: Mobile Mammography units face a unique challenge in patient retention due to the nature of being at transient locations throughout the year. Compared to their brick-and-mortar facility, Stony Brook Mobile Mammography (SBMM) cannot schedule annual screenings for the following year at checkout. To address this, SBMM completed a study on annual patient rescreen rates from 2019 to 2022 as a baseline. It utilized the Health Belief Model to implement a “cue-to-action” intervention through annual appointment reminder letters, which prompted patients to schedule their mammography screening. Beginning January 1, 2023, all patients screened in 2022 were mailed a letter one month before their due date, as notification that it was time to schedule a screening. This approach provided patients an avenue of direct contact in addition to community promotion or Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) referral, which are often delayed due to the high workload and inconsistent patient use of health centers. The reminder letter allowed patients to contact the SBMM office by phone or by submitting an online request. A QR code on the letter gave patients quick access to our online calendar and web form. Results: The annual and biennial patient return rates from 2022 to 2023 increased from 15% to 30% and 12% to 25%, respectively. Conclusions: Implementing a proactive communication strategy through reminder letters significantly increased patient retention rates. This direct patient engagement reduced reliance on community partners and FQHC referrals, prompting patients to act on the recommendation of an annual screening. Periodic program operation and outcome evaluations are vital to the growth and maintenance of a robust patient population. As SBMM continues to advance and reevaluate goals, cultivating deeper relationships with its current patient base remains a significant priority. Learning Objectives: Recognize the impact of barriers on patient care. Identify strategies to increase patient retention. Understand the concept of process implementation and evaluation.

Liana Orduna, MA, Mobile Mammography Program Coordinator, Stony Brook Mobile Mammography; Sara Hansen, MPH, Mobile Mammography Associate Program Coordinator, Stony Brook Mobile Mammography