Bryan, TX [May 15, 2018] – In Texas, 2.2 million women have no health insurance — the highest rate of uninsured women in the country. Breast cancer is 98 percent curable when detected early, but women aren’t getting the mammograms they need for better chances of survival due to lack of access to care and insured status. Those living in rural towns face even greater challenges seeking medical treatment and diagnosis.
Healthcare project management and operations expert Carol Jones and The Rose want to see those reports change in the Brazos Valley. Jones, The Rose’s newest Community Engagement Navigator, will act as the Brazos Valley representative for the Houston-based breast health nonprofit serving 40 Texas counties. Her position will ensure more women can access life-saving diagnostic services.
Carol Jones will Work Directly with Passionate Community Partners
Jones will work directly with community partners who are passionate about providing breast health services to their employees, customers, neighbors and friends. She will connect these individuals and companies to The Rose and its resources through educational opportunities and mobile mammography days utilizing The Rose’s 3D Mobile Mammography Coaches.
“The problem of access to breast healthcare services is one that too many women in Texas face and it’s a fight The Rose was founded on. First, we saw and addressed the issue of the uninsured not receiving what is essentially life-saving care. In the last several years, we’ve turned to breaking down the barriers of geography. Women in rural areas should not pay the ultimate price simply because they can’t reach a city,” said Dorothy Gibbons, CEO and Co-Founder of The Rose, who has been leading the way for access to care since the organization’s beginnings. “The Rose’s mobile fleet and community navigators like Carol Jones are invaluable as we strive to meet that need.”
Jones comes to The Rose after 13 years at the helm of Elder-Aid in Bryan, which serves low-income elderly in the Brazos Valley area by addressing issues such as affordable housing, health and wellness, and inadequate funding for basic needs. Her experience in healthcare gives her an understanding of the insurance industry, while her background in real estate lends itself to a breadth of perspective that will translate to her geographical coverage area for The Rose.
“My inspiration behind becoming a part of The Rose family is my sister, a 12-year breast cancer survivor,” said Jones. “Through her journey, I have witnessed the importance of early detection and treatment. It’s because of her that I am motivated to support and educate women in the Brazos Valley about breast healthcare and breast health issues.”
Jones will be engaging the community in the Brazos Valley in addition to a few counties outside the area. Her counties include Austin, Brazos, Burleson, Colorado, Grimes, Houston, Leon, Madison, Robertson, Trinity, Walker and Washington. She earned her Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA and Bachelor of Arts, Communications/Advertising from California State University (CSU).
To schedule a media interview with any member of our board, please contact Lis Harper at 281-846-5976 or email [email protected]. For more information, or to donate or volunteer, please visit www.therose.org.
About The Rose
Since 1986, The Rose has provided high quality breast healthcare to all women, regardless of their ability to pay. Its mission is to save lives through quality breast health services, advocacy and access to care for all. As a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, The Rose is led by Fellowship trained physicians and offers advanced digital technology including 3-D tomosynthesis mammography, diagnostic workups, biopsies and its nationally recognized Patient Navigation Program ensures access to treatment and a continuum of care for all women. As a major part of Southeast Texas’ Healthcare Safety Net, The Rose is a strong advocate for quality breast healthcare and access to care. The Rose provides direct medical services to 40,000 insured and uninsured patients annually. Two Houston-based comprehensive Diagnostic Centers and Mobile Mammography Coaches provide services to women throughout 43 counties in Southeast Texas.
