Women's Health Center at Samaritan Hospital

As a woman, you have special needs. At the Women's Health Center at Samaritan Hospital, we understand because we're women, too. We offer personalized care to help you stay healthy and well. And while the Women's Health Center offers services to women of all ages, our main focus is on wellness and prevention of the diseases that put mid-life women at risk.

Breast Care and Mammography

• Instruction in breast self-examination (BSE)
• Mammography services accredited by the American College of Radiology
• State-of-the-art digital mammography with ImageChecker, the newest digital technology for analyzing mammography images. ImageChecker can greatly assist in the early detection of breast cancer. In fact, clinical studies have shown that for every 100,000 cancers currently identified during mammography screening in the US, use of the ImageChecker could result in an additional 20, 500 cancers being detected each year.
• MammoPad, a soft foam cushion, helps with the discomfort many women feel during mammography
• Breast Biopsy -
  * Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy
  * Stereotactic breast biopsy
• Breast MRI, utilizing the DynaCAD system, available in Samaritan Hospital's medical imaging department
• Personalized care is assured for women with suspicious mammograms. Health center staff assist with additional diagnostic tests and treatment, scheduling appointments, and providing emotional and psychological support.
• After a diagnosis of breast cancer, a patient navigator is immediately assigned to the patient. The navigator, a clinically trained oncology nurse, assists the patient by coordinating care and navigating the patient through the unfamiliar healthcare system, including referral to comprehensive cancer treatment services .

Osteoporosis Screening

Osteoporosis affects 50 percent of women over 45, and 90 percent over 75. Our center provides:

• Bone mineral density (BMD) osteoporosis screening
• Community education programs to help reduce risk factors, including nutritional counseling, smoking cessation, alcohol management and exercise and fitness.

Keeping You Healthy and Well

To keep you healthy and well, we offer a variety of integrative therapies, including healing touch, hypnotherapy and massage. We also have an expansive library of books, videos, and up-to-the-minute medical journals and periodicals, as well as access to the Internet and assistance with researching women's health topics.

For Uninsured and Underinsured Women

Samaritan Hospital's Women's Health Center participates in the Cancer Services Program which provides free breast screening services, including mammograms and diagnostic breast ultrasound. Through the program, uninsured and underinsured patients without a personal physician are referred to the Northeast Health Primary Care Network for cervical exams, Pap tests and colo-rectal cancer screening.

To schedule a mammogram or bone density screening, please call (518) 271-3288.