New program to help improve breast health
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How you can help:Gifts to the Backus Foundation's Annual Fund help sustain vital programs like The Backus Breast Health Patient Navigator Program. This program builds on Backus Hospital's commitment as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center, which makes education, technology and treatment available close to home. To contribute to the annual fund, call Lee McLallen, Associate Director of Annual Giving, at 823-6536 or e-mail lmclallen@wwbh.org or give online backushospital.org/foundation |
When a woman finds out she has had an abnormal mammogram, she can often be overwhelmed by fears, and not sure what to do next. To help relieve this stress and make sure women are receiving care in a timely manner, Backus Hospital will launch a Breast Health Patient Navigator Program.
"We can help them find out what diagnostic tests they need next, help get appointments made and move them through the healthcare system in a timely fashion," said Joyce Kuusela, RN, patient navigator. "The concept is that we don't want women to be self-managing their care. This helps eliminate or reduce barriers to the healthcare system, so there can be a timely diagnosis and treatment."
Dinesh Kapur, MD, Medical Director of Cancer Services at Backus, said this program is just one piece of the hospital's overall Breast Health Center Program initiative. He said the program also will have an educational component for physicians and patients to turn to for education and support.
"The navigator program will help improve our consistency in diagnosing and timeliness," he said. "This is the first piece in the management of women's care when they are diagnosed with breast cancer."
Director of Cancer Services John Panicek said research has shown these types of programs can help improve the time that elapses between a screening mammography, diagnostic mammography, ultrasound or biopsy.
Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women, affecting one in eight. Connecticut ranks third in incident rates, behind Washington and Oregon. Approximately 12,000 women in Norwich and the surrounding area are screened annually through mammograms at Backus. The program is expected to begin by mid-November.
Ms. Kuusela said she will work one-on-one with patients and help them:
- Keep track of and get to appointments.
- Facilitate and streamline communication with their providers.
- Help with insurance paperwork if needed.
- Connect with community resources, support and healthcare education.