October is Time to Think Breast Health

October is Time to Think Breast Health
While October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month, the Susan G.
Komen Foundation has made it
possible for your community hospital
to provide year-round no cost
screening mammograms, diagnostic
mammograms and breast ultrasound
examinations to women living in the
Greater New Orleans area.
available until March 31, 2013 or
the $35,025.00 in grant funds are
exhausted.
According to national organizations
which increase awareness of cancer,
breast cancer is the most commonly
diagnosed cancer of women living
in this country. The National Cancer
Institute (NCI) estimates that a woman
in the United States has a 1 in 8
chance of developing breast cancer
in her lifetime.
The NCI recommends that women
40 or older have screening
mammograms every 1 to 2 years.
“This special offer will run thru the
month of October,” Debra Giroir,
Radiology Coordinator says. “This
is another way our physicians and
staff are reaching out to women to
emphasize the importance of breast
health and mammogram screenings
to promote early detection.”
To take advantage of the no cost testing,
women must meet eligibility criteria.
Included in the screening and testing
criteria provided for this particular
grant are underserved women and
women living within or below 165%
of federal poverty level standards.
The free screenings and testing will be
In addition, West Jefferson Medical
Center is offering a special screening
mammogram including the physician’s
interpretation for $100, that must be
paid by cash, check or credit card.
To schedule a screening mammogram
or learn more about West
Jefferson’s imaging services, call
504.349.6300.
Vanessa Batson, RN
WJMC Cancer Center
WJMC Breast Cancer Rehab Programs
West Jefferson Medical Center’s Rehab
Connection offers two breast cancer
specific outpatient rehabilitation
programs. These comprehensive
programs, Recovery in Motion and
Lymphedema Management, service
our community with certified and
experienced therapists.
The Recovery in Motion (RIM) program
focuses on restoring one’s flexibility,
strength and endurance that may
have been negatively affected by
cancer treatments. Clients enrolled
in the RIM program also receive
education regarding breast cancer
related lymphedema and work
towards maximizing their functional
performance with their activities of
daily living.
The second program, the Lymphedema
Management and Education program
is available to those survivors who
are experiencing swelling associated
with the removal of their lymph nodes
or damage to nodes from surgery
or radiation. Breast cancer related
lymphedema is a chronic noncurable condition and the main
goal of the program is to teach
the survivor how to independently
manage the associated symptoms.
The Susan G. Komen foundation
supports this program through grant
funding and qualifying patients will
receive financial assistance for the
purchase of necessary compression
materials.
Rehab Connection also utilizes
the LTU-904 laser, which is FDA
approved for the treatment of breast
cancer related lymphedema, as part
of complete decongestive therapy
program. WJMC is the only hospital
in the New Orleans and surrounding
areas to offer this technology. Rehab
Connection also hosts quarterly
lymphedema support groups.
For more information please call
504.349.6259.
Shanna Ferguson
Occupational Therapist;
Certified Lymphedema Therapist;
Lymphedema Program Coordinator
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I PINK I CAN
I PINK I CAN
100 Mammogram
$
Screening • October 1-31
Screening Includes:
Times:
• Digital Screening Mammogram
Monday - Friday • 8am - 4pm
• CAD Technology
Saturday • 8am - 11am
• Radiologist Interpretation
(Oct. 13 & 27 only)
Schedule Your Screening
504.349.6300
*Special rate of $100 (normally $395) through October 31, 2012.
Cash, check or credit card is required at time of service. Insurance will not be filed with this specific offer.
FREE ADMISSION
SATURDAY
OCTOBER 20
10 AM to 10 PM
920 AVE. B - MARRERO • BEHIND WJ HOSPITAL
GREAT FOOD • DRINKS • TRUNK OR TREAT • RAFFLES • PRIZES • COSTUME CONTEST
4:30 PM
3:00 PM
Live Music
Car Show
Kid Zone
August Rush
Noon to 3 pm
Aaron Foret
5 pm to 7 pm
Car Show
11 am to 3:30 pm
Awards
4 pm
The Wiseguys
7:30 pm to 10 pm
To Register, Call
504.349.1589
Eurobungee
Walk on Water Ball
Gator Slide
Mechanical Bull
Lagoon of Doom
Treasures Slide
Photo Booth • Much More
LIZ
SWAMP PEOPLE
WEST JEFF FAMILY FESTIVAL
OCTOBER 20
AUTOGRAPHS
25 Tickets for $20
Available at WJ Fitness Centers
Marrero:1121 Medical Center Blvd.
Oakwood: 175 Hector Ave.
504.348.0055
The AmeriBreasts®
The world’s only walk
through tour of the human
breasts with an emphasis
on breast cancer education
and prevention.
MEET
6 PM TO 9 PM
Kid Zone
$ 5 Advance Tickets
SAVE
Sponsored by
TOUR TIMES:
10 am - 5:30 pm
Caring for the Community
During Isaac
At 8am, August 28, 2012, West
Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC)
activated its Hurricane Plan in
response to then-Tropical Storm
Isaac. The hospital’s executive
staff worked closely with Jefferson
Parish officials and the state before
deciding to hunker down. This is
exactly what the hospital family is
well prepared to do.
“We hunkered down….yet again.
Like so many others, I didn’t give
much thought to a Category 1
storm. We don’t usually worry
much about those here in South
Louisiana. What Hurricane Isaac
reminded us, though, is that we
must always be prepared for
the unexpected” said Nancy R.
Cassagne, CEO of West Jefferson
Medical Center.
Each spring, West Jefferson
Medical Center and its employees,
business partners and Medical
Staff prepare for hurricane season.
Our hospital family is comprised
of all essential personnel who
accept assignments on WJMC’s
activation or recovery teams.
Well in advance of Isaac and
by the start of hurricane season,
our teams were in place. Upon
Isaac’s activation, West Jeff’s staff,
physicians and business partners
initiated hurricane and emergency
preparedness procedures.
The WJMC Emergency Department
and inpatient units continued to
provide care. Surgery schedules
were adjusted and outpatient
services were ramped down.
Visiting hours were curtailed and
the hospital began its lock down
procedures for the safety of our
patients and staff.
To further help the community,
West Jefferson worked with our
government officials to provide
housing for the Jefferson Parish
Special Needs Shelters initiative.
Outpatient services including
medical clinics and full surgery
schedules resumed as soon as
possible following the storm.
In the days following Isaac, WJMC
Chairman of the Board, Harry L.
(Chip) Cahill wrote, “I would like
to commend the administration,
staff and employees of the West
Jefferson Medical Center for the
outstanding service provided to
their community during Hurricane
Isaac. We were well prepared
for this event and our emergency
plans were executed in a most
efficient manner.”
Steve Brown
Support Services
Vice President
New Infusion Center
Opens This Month
The new West Jefferson Medical
Center Infusion Center is set to
open October 8 at 4511 Westbank
Expressway at Medical Center Blvd.
The new Center will offer a state of
the art facility, coupled with comfort
amenities for patients and families.
The new Infusion Center will include:
•A ground level, one story facility
•Nearby parking
•A home-like atmosphere
•Blanket warmers
•Reclining chairs
•Personal TVs, Wi-Fi and more
Watch for next month’s Community
Report featuring our donors who
contributed the new Infusion Center.
For more information about
our new Cancer Center, call
504.349.6360.