Who can participate?
Making an appointment
Book your own appointment
Eligible individuals can call our office to book their appointment. Our services are free and do not require a health care provider’s referral. Please make sure you have your health card handy before you call.
Call us at (807) 684-7777. Your health care provider can also refer you to the Screen for Life Coach.
Once you have booked your appointment, you will receive a letter with the date, time, and location of your appointment.
What can I expect?
Screen for Life Coach
The Screen for Life Coach visits over 75 different locations across Northwestern Ontario. Parking at the Coach locations is free. When you arrive, you will be greeted by one of the two female staff who work on the Coach. There are private change rooms on the Coach, but there is no washroom. Please remember to use the washroom before you come for your appointment.
The Screen for Life coach is wheelchair accessible.
Your cervical cancer screening appointment
When you meet the registered nurse on the Coach, she will review your cervical cancer screening history to determine if you are eligible to be screened. If you are eligible, your Pap test will be performed in our private examination room on the Coach. The nurse will explain the procedure to you.
Remember to use the washroom before your appointment because there is no washroom on board.
Clients who are having a Pap test on the Screen for Life Coach will also be given the option of have STI (sexually transmitted infection) testing for Chlamydia and gonorrhea at the same time. This test is not inclusive of all STIs. If you would like to have STI testing done for more than chlamydia and gonorrhea, you should contact your health care provider or another sexual health clinic.
Test results
Your cervical screening results will arrive in the mail six to eight weeks after your Pap test.
If your results indicate that more tests are required, our patient navigator will contact you and explain what your result means and what the next steps are.
If you have any questions or concerns, call our patient navigator at: (807) 684-6921.
What happens if I have an abnormal test result?
If you don’t have a health care provider, the Screen for Life Coach is an excellent option for you to access screening tests. We ensure that abnormal test follow-up is coordinated for our clients. If you have an abnormal test the patient navigator will help to coordinate your care.
Our patient navigator works closely with our mobile coach medical lead to ensure that clients who have an abnormal Pap test have follow-up within a timely and appropriate manner.
What is an unsatisfactory Pap test result?
An unsatisfactory Pap test result usually means that the sample collected from your cervix didn’t have enough cells or the cells could not be seen well enough under the microscope. In these instances, you will need to repeat your Pap test to get a better a sample. Our office will contact you to discuss next steps.
Thirty percent of individuals will have an abnormal Pap test result in their lifetime. Cell changes found through Pap tests are very rarely cancer, but they do require follow-up.
Your next appointment
You will receive a letter when it’s time for your next cervical cancer screening Pap test. Most individuals return for cervical cancer screening every three years. When you receive your letter, call our office to arrange your next appointment on the Screen for Life Coach. Or, you can schedule your Pap test appointment at a location that is convenient for you.
