Cancer Center Bridge Fund

Fund Picks Up Where Insurance Ends

The fight against cancer is hard enough, but when a patient is not employed or covered by a health insurance plan, the cost of transportation to appointments, prescription drugs, and nutritional supplements can become overwhelming. That is when the Cancer Center’s Bridge Fund steps in to help.

For more than a decade, the Bridge Fund has helped provide for some of the basic needs of cancer patients undergoing treatment. Grateful patients and family members, Cancer Center volunteers, and caring members of the community make financial contributions to support the fund — in fact, the Bridge Fund would not exist without the generosity of those individuals. Proceeds from special events such as Waynesboro’s annual Summer Extravaganza races also support the Cancer Center Bridge Fund.

“Dealing with cancer and its treatment creates enough anxiety and stress for patients and their families,” says John Girard, director of the Augusta Health Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders. “The Bridge Fund covers the gap for patients in need, allowing them to focus on treatment and getting healthy.”

Every day, I see people who are just knocked off their feet by cancer; they are worried and scared. They are just trying to make it through treatment the best they can. The Bridge Fund helps these patients during one of the most difficult times of their lives. It makes a huge difference.”

Leigh Anderson
Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the Augusta Health Cancer Center

Cancer patients need excellent clinical care, compassion, and understanding. They may also need personalized help and assistance with those things that serve as barriers or obstacles to care. The Bridge Fund is used to “bridge the gap” when a critical need arises and no other assistance is available. Gifts to the Bridge Fund make it possible for us to provide for the immediate needs that our patients and their families face, such as:

• Medication assistance for prescriptions that are not covered by Patient Assistance Programs or some insurance providers.
• Assistance with the cost of nutritional supplements not covered by insurance. This includes both the oral and tube feeding supplements.
• Upfront costs for the uninsured cancer patient who might need outpatient surgery for port placement prior to starting IV Chemotherapy.
• Help with transportation costs via provision of gas vouchers or cab rides.
• Assistance with purchasing wigs, turbans, hats, mastectomy bras, and lymphedema sleeves.

The Augusta Health oncology program has maintained full accreditation status from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons since 1994, and its 2009 accreditation recognized the Cancer Center as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center Program, based on the increase in the number of patients seen and procedures performed.

From radiation therapy to occupational and physical therapy and nutrition services, Augusta Health is proud to offer state-of-the art cancer treatment right in your community.