Men at work: Sentara provides prostate cancer screenings for hospital employees

Sentara CarePlex Hospital in Hampton, Virginia, hosted Sentara’s first-ever employee prostate cancer screening program. Over the course of two days, twenty men got screened with a quick blood test while at work. 

“We always say, ‘If only I could see into the future. Well, with prostate cancer screenings, you can,’” said David Smith, manager of facilities at Sentara CarePlex Hospital. 

Smith’s father survived both prostate and colon cancer, so this is personal for him. 

“I’m one of the few leaders in this hospital with an all-male team, so I get on my soapbox and have this conversation with them.”

Sentara CarePlex Hospital was chosen as the pilot site because community members living on the Virginia Peninsula face some of Virginia’s highest prostate cancer rates, especially Black men, who are two times more likely to die from the disease.

“I saw the sign on my way out to my car, and I was like, ‘Oh!’ And I brought my coworker. I said, ‘Come on, let’s go get it done. You’re old enough now,’” said Robert Weldon, clinical engineer contractor at Sentara CarePlex Hospital. “I get my prostate checked every year because of my dad passing from it.” 

Shawn Sinkler (left) and Robert Weldon, clinical engineers at Sentara, get their preventative screening.

This pilot program is an effort by Sentara Health to support the health and well-being of team members. 

“They spend so much time day-to-day taking care of others. This was our opportunity to take care of them,” said Ebony Baines, manager of operations at Sentara CarePlex Hospital. “We hope to expand this program across the system.”

When diagnosed early, prostate cancer can have a 97% 5-year survival rate. However, it’s the most common and second deadliest cancer among men. Conversations about prostate health are uncomfortable and awareness is not as widespread as it should be. 

“When you walk into the shop, it’s usually, ‘Did you see the game last night?’ Not, ‘Hey are you guys going to get your prostate screening?’” said Smith. “Guys don’t really like to share that stuff, they do tend to keep it in. I believe making it OK to have those conversations is key.”

Another barrier is that many men are busy and “feel fine”. 

“How many of these guys would’ve gotten this done if it wasn’t this convenient, where we can just come down to the conference room and get screened,’” said Smith. “We usually think, ‘I feel fine, I don’t have time for that, I’ll get it next time.’ But next time might be too late.”

Symptoms of prostate cancer usually don’t appear until it’s in its later stages, which is why yearly screening is crucial.  

Dante Golepo, executive chef at Sentara CarePlex Hospital, gets his blood drawn by Nurse Jessica Fischbach.

Last year, Sentara adopted new screening guidelines recommending Black men and men at high risk begin screening between ages 40-45. Men with average risk can begin prostate cancer screening at age 50.

Only 33% of Black men in the U.S. report getting screened for prostate cancer each year, which is slightly lower than the 37% of White men who do.

“My people don’t like to go to the doctor until they get older,” said Weldon.

Smith assumed his yearly physical exams would detect prostate cancer, not realizing that required a separate screening. 

“If you’re going to your primary care, ask them, ‘Are you doing a prostate cancer screening?’ And they’ll tell you or they can add it into your appointment. You’ve got to get checked.”

For more information about prostate cancer, click here.