The Northeast Ohio Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® has awarded a $59,009.60 grant to UH Geneva Medical Center for the Ashtabula County & Eastern Lake County Rural Underserved Women’s Project. Also, the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC) recently recognized Lori Ann Slimmer, RN, Community Educator, and Candace Koss, RN, Community Outreach Nurse, UH Geneva Medical Center, as Certified Breast Patient Navigators.
Forty percent of the Komen grant funds will support community outreach; 30 percent will support breast health education; and the remaining 30 percent will be utilized for screenings and diagnosis. The top priority of the Ashtabula County & Eastern Lake County Rural Underserved Women’s Project is breast self-awareness and early breast cancer detection for women who are uninsured and below the Federal Poverty Guidelines in Ashtabula and surrounding counties.
“This grant money will allow our patient care providers to serve those who need our quality health care the most,” says Rob David, President, UH Geneva and Conneaut medical centers. “A major priority of our hospital is to address the needs of our community and the Underserved Women’s Project does just that.”
Lori and Candace completed NCBC’s Breast Patient Navigator Certification Program, which validates their knowledge and skills in navigating a breast patient through their continuum of care. During the breast imaging navigation stages, Lori and Candace will guide their patient through the breast imaging process and ensure the patient receives timely exam results, is scheduled for appropriate follow-up care and/or their next routine exam.
“Our job is to make sure the patient is taken care of respectfully and efficiently throughout their diagnosis and treatment,” says Candace. “My hope is that this program and certification helps save women’s lives in the Ashtabula County area.”
Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest breast cancer organization, and the Northeast Ohio Affiliate is one of 125 Affiliates on the front lines dedicated to ending breast cancer in their communities. Komen Affiliates fund innovative programs that help women and men overcome the cultural, social, educational and financial barriers to breast cancer screening and treatment.