Methodist Breast Center Expansion Focuses on Regional Care, Early Detection and Treatment of Breast Cancer
April 23, 2007
Methodist Medical Center expands its 20-year-old multi-disciplinary breast cancer services providing additional space, resources, and staffing increasing access to state-of-the-art breast care throughout the Central Illinois region. The Methodist Breast Center enhances the services available to women from screening to diagnosis and treatment.
This multi-disciplinary team includes three dedicated breast surgeons, a radiologist, radiation therapist, medical oncologist, full-time patient navigator, and psychosocial support services. Dr. Lynne Jalovec and Dr. Denise Mammolito are widely regarded as the leading breast cancer surgeons in Central Illinois. New to the team is Dr. Mary Ahn, a fellowship-trained breast surgeon, who will also serve as administrative coordinator for the Methodist Breast Center. With the addition of Dr. Ahn, Methodist will be able to reach out to even more patients in the region, increasing access to nationally recognized and experienced breast cancer surgeons.
"I am excited to be joining a dedicated team of physicians and healthcare professionals providing excellent breast care, and applying my training and experience in breast surgical services to enhance what is already an impressive group of providers. The Methodist Breast Center will continue to deliver outstanding care while expanding our service area," said Dr. Ahn. "Having access to information and treatment options is very important for anyone undergoing evaluation for a breast abnormality or cancer. Through our full-time resource coordinator, we will ensure that our patients get the information and support they need."
Methodist also provides outreach to rural communities through the Methodist MammoVan, the state’s only mobile mammography unit. Like all Methodist mammography sites, the MammoVan features digital equipment, which is faster, more accurate, and more comfortable for the patient. Methodist is the only Peoria-area hospital to offer 100% digital mammography, which has enabled Methodist to detect 20% more minimal cancers than traditional mammography.
"Patients from outlying communities will really benefit from our expanded Breast Center," explains Tony Howard, Director of Medical Imaging at Methodist. "Through the MammoVan, we provide greater access to screening. Our digital imaging enables us to detect smaller cancers sooner, which leads to earlier and less-invasive treatment. And the coordinated care with our multi-disciplinary team means the patient doesn’t have to make multiple trips to Peoria for testing and physician appointments."
Howard adds, "Referring physicians, whether local or regional, also appreciate our advanced technology that allows doctors to access images on their computers, wherever they are, and to participate in the multi-disciplinary conference from their own office. Instead of waiting for the specialist to mail a written report days or weeks later, the patient’s family doctor can actually be part of the team planning and evaluating the patient’s care."
The Methodist Breast Center provides fast, state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer. With the faster digital equipment and a focus on patient needs, a woman can check in, get her mammogram, and be on her way within 20 minutes. If a follow-up mammogram is needed, diagnostic testing is provided within 24-48 hours – much faster than the 20-day average indicated in a recent survey of leading breast centers in the U.S.
Methodist is also the Peoria area’s only American College of Radiology (ACR) accredited MRI site capable of bilateral breast imaging and invasive localization procedures. That means that only at Methodist can a patient undergo breast MRI – a non-invasive tool used in the detection and evaluation of breast abnormalities – in a single day. Methodist also has the only ACR accredited breast ultrasound and core biopsy program in the area – one of only 19 in Illinois.
Kelly Frick, the Breast Health Navigator at Methodist, will meet with most patients who undergo a breast biopsy. Frick’s role is to provide education, comfort and support for women facing a breast cancer diagnosis, and to coordinate their care, scheduling tests and procedures quickly so treatment can begin sooner. If surgery is required, most patients undergo the procedure within 21 days after being diagnosed. Explains Frick, "Nine out of 10 women diagnosed with breast cancer at Methodist have their surgery within 14 days. But with our breast MRI, we can detect smaller tumors, which means we are diagnosing more multi-focal disease. When a woman has multiple tumors, more testing is required before surgery can begin."
The regional approach of the Methodist Breast Center includes free accommodations for out-of-town patients and family members. The Methodist Inn, unique among Peoria-area hospitals, features hotel-like rooms located within the medical center itself. They are provided free of charge to patients who want to come the night before an early-morning procedure, and to out-of-town family members.
Methodist has been providing state-of-the-art mammography services in Central Illinois for decades. According to surveys by the independent PressGaney Associates, patient satisfaction with Methodist mammography is at the 99th percentile – the best in the nation.
The expanded Methodist Breast Care Center is located in the Methodist Diagnostic Center across from the main medical center, with free surface parking and easy access via I-74 from all parts of the region.
The physicians cited are independent practitioners who are not employees or agents of Methodist.