Delivering robust, tailored care in one convenient location
Established in 2014, the Karl J. Krapek Sr. Comprehensive Women’s Health Center at Saint Francis is built on the hospital system’s long legacy of community trust and patient-centered care.
Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center is proud to continue its long-standing commitment to women’s health through the ever-expanding Comprehensive Women’s Health Center. The roughly 175 to 200 women who come through the center’s doors each and every day are receiving top-quality care by some of the best specialty physicians in the state, who utilize advanced technology. Their care is also supported by the highly regarded convenience factor exclusive to Saint Francis.
Free valet parking upon arrival is the first sign that the center is something different. The on-site nurse navigators who coordinate patients’ care are another.
“We saw a chance here to create something special for women in our community,” said Laura Bailey, executive director of Women & Infants Services.
“We looked at the different types of care each woman needs through the aging process and the ways we could deliver that care in the most efficient way.”
The result? An, innovative facility within Saint Francis Hospital where women benefit from The Hoffman Breast Health Center, The Comprehensive Women’s Infusion Center, the Gynecologic Oncology Saint Francis Medical Group, the Women’s Heart Program, The Center for Integrative Medicine and the Urogynecology Saint Francis Medical Group.
These hubs of expertise — all under one umbrella — allow women to take advantage of ranges of services: from breast biopsies to ultrasonography to massage therapy to holistic nutrition, lactation support, genetic counseling and gynecologic oncology support groups, to name just a few.
“The Comprehensive Women’s Health Center’s singular location means women can access screening mammograms and diagnostic services from a team of fellowship-trained breast surgeons, restore their pelvic health or treat cancers of the reproductive tract. All while in the care of our nationally recognized specialists in gynecologic oncology and female pelvic medicine, simultaneously receiving supportive services, furthering the healing process, through our Center for Integrative Medicine,” said Dr. Phillip Roland, the center’s physician leader. “The ability to receive each of these services in a single location is truly a unique experience.”
Expert initiative
The high-level care practiced at the Comprehensive Women’s Center does not only focus on diagnoses and treatment, but on educating women about preventive care and wellness. The center’s physicians look to partner with patients’ primary-care providers to balance and strengthen patients’ long term health care efforts, explained Bailey.
The center’s team of experts understand that information, especially in a timely fashion, is power. Therefore, the center focuses heavily on integration across all channels by streamlining the process of breast-cancer prevention, treatment and recovery, beginning the process with same-day mammogram results.
“We’re making it easier for women to take care of themselves with coordinated services,” said Bailey. “Women who come for a mammogram and get results that day. If you need additional imaging, you will likely get it done the same day. If you need to see a breast surgeon, chances are very good you can see them that day. Every patient walks out with results and hopefully more peace of mind.”
And it isn’t just patients who have taken notice of the Hoffman center’s timely results using the very latest in imaging technology.
In January, the American College of Radiology designated Saint Francis Hospital’s Hoffman Breast Health Center as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. Assets such as 3-D breast tomosynthesis imaging, ultrasound elastography, stereotactic image-guided breast biopsies and bone-density scans led to this recognition. Hoffman Breast Health Center is also accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and for the past two years, earned the Women’s Choice Award for breast health.
Custom cardiac care
Most women are not aware that they face unique heart issues that are not the same as what men face. However, the American Heart Association lists heart disease as the No. 1 killer of women — so Saint Francis Hospital doing its part to put a special focus on this important area of women’s health.
The Women’s Heart Program at the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center is headed by Dr. Anita Kelsey. With a free education session to any woman over 18, a cardiologist, registered dietician, registered nurse and exercise physiologist help each patient set goals and be proactive in reducing heart-disease risk.
Integrative Medicine
At the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center, integrative medicine — which takes the whole patient and her lifestyle into account — helps patients on their healing journey, comforting them through cancer or guiding them toward optimal wellness. The center’s modalities include massage therapy, art therapy, energy therapy, meditation, acupuncture and reflexology.
Sharon O’Brien is founder and program director of the Center of Integrative Medicine, as well as the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center’s assistant director.
Unique programs are offered in both group setting and one-on-one so that they are tailored to the needs of the patient, explained O’Brien. She went on to say that physician-guided stress management, classes in how to heal faster after surgery, sessions on healing through music and drumming circles are just a few of the programs which bring together patients who are going through similar health challenges.
Dedicated infusion suite
The Comprehensive Women’s Infusion Center is another area with a vibe all its own; it’s relaxing, peaceful and comfortable for women receiving chemotherapy infusions for breast or gynecologic cancers.
“These patients need to make frequent visits to the center for their treatments, so they often see familiar faces and end up developing relationships with each other, making it a much more pleasant experience for them,” said Bailey.
Staffed by Saint Francis/Mount Sinai Regional Cancer Center, the infusion center also has an intake coordinator to provide personalized attention.
Also anchoring the Comprehensive Women’s Health Center are the Trinity Health Of New England Medical Groups, including Gynecologic Oncology, Urogynecology, and Breast Plastic Surgery. Women requiring treatment, needing surgery or recovering from gynecologic cancers, pelvic-floor disorders or incontinence benefit not only from the outstanding quality of care at the center, but also its innovation — such as minimally invasive, robotic surgeries — all within the same location where they have been receiving other services through the years.
Where myriad aspects of comprehensive care come together to form a successful model, the center’s main goal is simple, said Bailey.
“Women are known to put everyone around them first, letting their own needs fall by the wayside. We understand that and feel it is incredibly important to provide a way to make it easier for women to take care of themselves,” said Bailey. “We are constantly assessing, growing, looking at evolving needs, addressing them as they develop and as research warrants, all in order to continue to be the top choice in women’s health care in the region.”
