CONTACT:

Holy Cross Hospital: Christine Walker, PIO, (954) 958-4893 or (954) 245-2910

DOH-Broward: Candy Sims, PIO (954) 467-4784 or (954) 895-5745

Free breast screenings will be provided at the 2016 Valentine's MammoTime event at the Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women's Center at Holy Cross HealthPlex 

 FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (January 27, 2016) – Holy Cross Hospital, Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and Florida Department of Health in Broward County (DOH-Broward) encourage all women to give themselves the gift of health this Valentine’s Day by participating in the “2016 Valentine Is MammoTime” event. 

Women of all ages can receive a free screening mammogram at “Valentine Is MammoTime.” The event is set from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women’s Center at Holy Cross HealthPlex, 1000 NE 56^th Street in Fort Lauderdale, FL 33334.

Appointments for the MammoTime event on February 13 are recommended. Please call 954-762-3649 to register.

"We are happy to partner with Holy Cross Hospital’s Partners in Breast Health Program for these services to the community," said Dr. Paula Thaqi, Director of Florida Department of Health in Broward County.

Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) provides free breast and cervical cancer screenings for women ages 50 to 64 who lack health coverage and who meet eligibility guidelines. FBCCEDP sites are available throughout Florida. For information, call 954-762-3649.

Holy Cross Hospital's Partners in Breast Health (PIBH) program has provided outreach education, clinical breast exams, screening mammograms and diagnostic procedures to uninsured, lower income and minority women age 40 and older who lack access to healthcare services. The program also offers services to uninsured symptomatic women who are younger than 40.

Partners in Breast Health clients receive screenings and diagnostics at the Holy Cross Dorothy Mangurian Comprenshive Women's Center in Fort Lauderdale and at the Holy Cross Urgent Care and Imaging Center in east Boca Raton.

"Our Partners in Breast Health program is extremely active," said Kim Saiswick, RN, PhD, Director of Community Outreach for Holy Cross Hospital. "Our Mobile Heath Unit visits underserved communities in central and northern Broward County that have the highest percentage of poor quality health indicators, thus increasing access to the PIBH program."

Aboard the Mobile Health Unit, a physician or an advanced registered nurse practitioner provides one-on-one education, a general health assessment, clinical breast exams and mammogram prescriptions for women age 40 and older. Follow up is included to assist patients with additional diagnostics, treatment and special needs. 

"Doing an event like Valentine Is MammoTime allows us yet another opportunity to address women's health needs on the spot," Saiswick explained.

--

About Holy Cross Hospital and Partners in Breast Health (PIBH)

A part of Trinity Health, Fort Lauderdale, FL-based Holy Cross Hospital is a full-service, non-profit, Catholic, teaching hospital operating in the spirit of the Sisters of Mercy. Through strategic collaborations and a commitment to being a person-centered, transforming, healing presence, the 557-bed hospital offers progressive inpatient, outpatient and community outreach services and clinical research trials to meet our diverse community's evolving healthcare needs.  Thriving since 1955, Holy Cross Hospital's medical staff numbers more than 600, represents more than 40 specialties and is complemented by more than 3,000 employees— all  working to make Holy Cross our community's trusted health partner for life. PIBH is made possible by generous funding from the Harry T. Mangurian, Jr. Foundation, American Cancer Society, Women Owning Wellness (a committee of the Holy Cross Hospital Auxiliary), 1000+ Club, Susan G. Komen for the Cure and numerous private donors. To learn more about Holy Cross Hospital, visit holy-cross.com, “like” Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale on Facebook at facebook.com/holycrossfl, or follow @holycrossfl on Twitter.

About the Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

The Florida Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (FBCCEDP) is funded by the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) as administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The FBCCEDP has been awarded funding by the CDC since 1994. The grant is administered through the central office, and 16 lead regional coordinators manage service provision across the state to assure statewide access. As one of the lead counties, DOH-Broward oversees FBCCEDP activities in Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties.

###