Columbia St. Mary's Mammography Mobile Outreach Project receives Wisconsin Cancer Council 2013 Community Service Award
Contact: Debbie Michalak
Marketing Communications Manager
(414) 291-1856
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Milwaukee, WI, October 21, 2013 – Columbia St. Mary’s is proud to announce that its Mammography Mobile Outreach Project has received a 2013 Community Service Award from the Wisconsin Cancer Council.
“It’s long been the mission of Columbia St. Mary’s to provide care for the most vulnerable among us and ensure that no one is left behind, and the Mammography Mobile Outreach Program is at the forefront of that commitment,” said Bill Solberg, Director of Community Services at Columbia St. Mary’s. “By coming to women in settings that they’re comfortable in – like church – the Mobile Digital Mammography Center helps these women overcome barriers to care.”
The Community Service Award “recognizes outstanding work undertaken at the local level by organizations and institutions committed to outreach and service within the community they serve.” Award winners are determined by the Wisconsin Cancer Council Award Committee, an 11-member board made up of local health professionals.
The Mammography Mobile Outreach Project targets Milwaukee-area women 40 and older who need screening mammograms but have difficulty gaining access to traditional programs. A state-of-the-art vehicle, the Mobile Digital Mammography Center is staffed by an all-woman team of radiological technicians with advanced mammography training and delivers services in familiar and accessible locations. It eliminates barriers to screening, among them transportation and anxiety about the screening itself. Outreach Care Coordinators identify women in need, see hat they receive screening, and work with community partners including churches, clinics, and non-profit organizations to hold events with the coach.
Last year, the Mammography Mobile Outreach Project screened more than 850 women. For as many as 22 percent of these women, this was their very first mammogram – and as many as 39 percent were more than two years removed from their last screening. These are very high-risk populations that might otherwise go untreated.
In addition to mammogram screenings, this project offers women diagnostic services at Columbia St. Mary’s and help with establishing financial eligibility for treatment. It raises breast health awareness, promotes proactive care and improves breast cancer survival through early detection.
“This acknowledgement is well-deserved and a testament to the hard work and dedication of each and every person who helps make the Mammography Mobile Outreach Project such a success,” said Claudia Guevara, Breast Health Advocate at Columbia St. Mary’s Women’s Hospital. “The program truly exemplifies Columbia St. Mary’s passion for patient care.’”
The Mammography Mobile Outreach Project receives support from the Southeast Wisconsin Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, which provides grant funding; the Wisconsin Women’s Health Foundation (WWHF) and Wisconsin Well Woman Program (WWWP), which assist with referrals and funding for screening; and the Urban Church Wellness Initiative, a partnership of 90 central-city Milwaukee churches.
“Your on-going project is making significant contributions to cancer control in Milwaukee County and in Wisconsin,” said Nancy Freeman, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Cancer Council. “It is a great example of a collaborative effort to attack a difficult problem.”
The Wisconsin Cancer Council is a coalition of more than 95 organizations dedicated to the development and support of cancer programs in Wisconsin
About Columbia St. Mary’s
Columbia St. Mary’s comprises four hospitals, Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Milwaukee (including the Women’s Hospital), Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital Ozaukee, Sacred Heart Rehabilitation Institute and a partnership with the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin. In addition, there are 62 primary care clinics, the Columbia College of Nursing, and an affiliation with Madison Medical Affiliates. The system serves Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Washington and Sheboygan counties, with more than 164 years of service. Columbia St. Mary’s is transforming healthcare through its leading cardiovascular services, robotic surgery, Trilogy cancer technology, Bariatric Services, Orthopaedic Surgery, Spine Center, Milwaukee Institute of Minimally Invasive Surgery, Heitz Radiation Oncology Center, Regional Burn Center, Van Dyke Haebler Center for Women’s Imaging, Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, Wound Healing Centers, accredited chest pain centers, certified primary stroke centers, Wisconsin Chiari Center, and full women’s health services including the Heart Secrets Program. Columbia St. Mary’s and its sponsor organizations, Ascension Health and Columbia Health System, share a mission to make a positive difference in the health status and lives of individuals in the community with a special concern for those who are vulnerable. For more information, visit www.columbia-stmarys.org.
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