Pilot program provides housing, food and transportation for DFW cancer patients

If you or someone you know has undergone cancer treatment, you know they may be too tired to work or cook. And depending on their financial situation, those barriers can make it hard to focus on getting well. McKesson launched a pilot program to meet those basic needs to help cancer patients' chances of committing to treatment and surviving.

"One in two men and one in three women in the us are experiencing cancer in some way or shape or form and it's something that affects everybody," said Niki Shah, VP of Impact, Innovation & Activation at McKesson. She says leaders at McKesson posed the question, 'What happens after someone is diagnosed with cancer? Their discussions led the company to develop and provide funding for The DFW Community Based SDOH (Social Determinants of Health) Cancer Care Program.

"How do we create a easy way for people in the community to get basic services that they need so that they can achieve their best possible health outcomes," Shah said. McKesson partnered with Community Council of Greater Dallas, Feonix Mobility Rising, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, and Visiting Nurse Association (Meals on Wheels and Hospice and Palliative Care).

Together, they started filling critical needs, knocking down barriers that were blocking patients from treatment. According to McKesson, since February of 2023 they've given over 1,000 medical transport rides and delivered more than 3,000 meals through Meals on Wheels. Community Council of Greater Dallas has helped patients pay their rent to maintain housing while in treatment.