Carol Milgard Breast Center

Programs: Patient care services - in 2017, the breast center served a total of 40,995 total patients, providing some 59,154 exams and procedures. The breast center launched a new emr, epic. The epic platform enhances patient care and ensures integrity of patient records. Also the breast center introduced volpara. Volpara assists radiologists and technolgists in image quality and quality control. One of volpara's features helps identify patients who may be at a higher risk of breast density, assisting the breast center in identifying patients who may benefit from additional imaging. As part of integrating whole-person health, the breast center is in its third year of offering quarterly emotional support groups for cancer survivors and their caregivers or loved ones. Facilitated by the breast center chaplain, the sessions are called tea for the soul and help support the post-diagnostic journey of patients who are trying to find meaning in their experience. Finally to enhance the patient experience, staff continued to be engaged in a mindfulness program. Staff who practice self care are better able to support and care for patients.

outreach to underserved populations - in keeping with its mission, the breast center held 5 screening events this year serving 102 women. The breast center continued its partnership with the insurance company coordinated care, focused on medicaid patients. This event reaches patients whose income is at or near the federal poverty level. For all screening events and during its regular operating schedule, the breast center provides financial aid to all eligible patients through the support of donor funds and public programs like the breast, colon, and cervical health program. Approximately 240 patients received financial aid in 2017. The breast center also administers a voucher program for men of any age or women under age 35 experiencing breast symptoms. The breast center continued a program titled faithhealth in action which supports and informs congregations of predominantly african american men and women. The program features training and screening opportunities related to breast and prostate health. Multicare and chi franciscan providers help support the prostate health component, along with the american cancer society. The breast center also continued its collaboration with the leaders in women's health. This group of 75 + mostly african american women has continued meeting and working together for 6 years with the goal of reversing the incidence and mortality rates of breast cancer among women of color in our county. Finally the breast center extended its outreach to the latina community by hosting focus groups and a screening event. With the help of a bilingual outreach person and a strong social media strategy, 14 patients were brought to cmbc for their mammograms.

breast health education - through 2017, the breast center participated in more than 22 health related events, providing breast health education to groups representing latina, lgbtq, african american, russian, korean, cambodian, native american and vietnamese community members. All of the breast screening events held at the breast center featured breast self examination tutorials, either through a video presentation, sharing of materials, or 1 to 1 training with certified instructors. The breast center's 6th annual pink at the park event engaged more than 500 attendees, generated awareness of breast health, and honored breast cancer survivors. Cmbc continues its social media strategy to spread the word about detection of breast cancer and how screening mammography saves lives.