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Community Corner

Discounts with local businesses with mammogram

Breast cancer is still the most common type of cancer among women accounting for one in every four cancer diagnoses in women in the United States.  According to the 2013 Will County Community Health Status Assessment Report, in 2009, 20 out of every 100,000 women in Will County died of breast cancer, which is just slightly lower than the state and national average.  However, it has been proven that even more lives can be saved if the tumor is discovered at an early stage, and mammography screening is the most effective way for detecting these malignancies.

 

Rewards for Mammograms

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To encourage women to get regular mammograms and other important health screenings, Silver Cross launched a unique program in 2008 called I Matter.  Women who sign up for the free program and come to the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health for their annual mammography screening receive a special membership card which can be used for valuable discounts at over 120 businesses throughout the community—from salons to restaurants to Orland Square Mall retailers. 

 

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“The program has been wildly successful with over 4,200 participating members and new partners joining all the time,” says Marci Vasiliades, Manager of the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health.  “In the past month alone, we signed on 50 new businesses. A complete list is available at www.Imatter.silvercross.org.”

 

Importance and Convenience of Screening

“Mammography is the single most effective method for early detection of breast cancer, which is vital in order to enhance treatment options and improve the chances of both successful treatment and survival,” said Dr. Latha Arla, internal medicine physician with Sanitas Medical Group at Silver Cross Hospital. 

 

The Community Health Status Assessment Reports also states that between 2007‐2009 79.3% of women over the age of 40 in Illinois had a mammogram within the last year.  In Will County, the number was much less at 68.1%.  This is an increase from 2004 to 2006 in which only 57.9% of this population reported the same, however it is still below the national Healthy People 2020 Target of 76.8%.

 

“We want to not only reward women for taking care of themselves, but also make it easy, convenient and comfortable to get their mammogram, says Vasiliades.  “The Center for Women’s Health is located on the new Silver Cross campus right off of I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox.  Set in a soothing, spa-like environment, we offer variety of healthcare services designed around a woman’s needs and lifestyle including breast ultrasound and biopsy for those who may need further testing. You also have the opportunity to consult with a board certified radiologist or meet with a Certified Breast Health Nurse to assist with the next steps in your care.”

 

To learn more or to become an I Matter member, visit http://www.imatter.silvercross.org/.  To schedule an appointment for a mammogram at the Silver Cross Center for Women’s Health, call (815) 300-7076.  A doctor’s order is required.

 

About Silver Cross Hospital

Silver Cross Hospital is a not-for-profit health care provider serving Will County and southwest suburban communities since 1895. Silver Cross has been recognized as a Thomson Reuters 100 Top Hospitals National Award winner for seven consecutive years and as a Hospital of Choice by the American Alliance of Healthcare Providers. With over 3,000 employees, physicians and volunteers, Silver Cross operates a 289-bed acute care hospital and 6 satellite facilities providing outpatient services and physician offices. Silver Cross opened a state-of-the-art replacement hospital on February 26, 2012 at I-355 and Route 6 in New Lenox. To learn more about Silver Cross Hospital or a referral to a physician on staff, visit http://www.silvercross.org/ or call 1-888-660-HEAL (4325). 

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