KentuckyOne Health Announces $1 Million Renovation and Expansion of Breast Care at Saint Joseph East - Archived
Lexington, Ky. (May 7, 2014)—Saint Joseph East, part of KentuckyOne Health, formally shared construction plans on a $1 million expansion and renovation of the hospital’s breast care center today. The project is funded in part by the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation and will include the new imaging technology digital breast tomography, often referred to as 3D mammography.
“3D mammography, tomosynthesis, is an exciting new technology in breast imaging for enhanced detection of early breast cancer,” said Kimberly Stigers, M.D., radiologist. “We are grateful to KentuckyOne Health and the Saint Joseph Foundation for making this technology available for our patients.”
The expansion will add nearly 2,100 square feet to the existing 3,800 square foot breast care services area conveniently located on the first-floor in the medical office
building adjacent to the hospital. The extra space will allow for an additional mammography suite with private dressing rooms providing a spa-like atmosphere for patients, as well as comfortable waiting areas for family members. The availability of additional dressing rooms and diagnostic areas will better accommodate and assist with the transition between patients and procedures.
Breast screening and bone densitometry services will move to a space separate from areas where patients receive diagnostic services, including ultrasounds and biopsies.
“The new equipment and expanded space will allow us to accommodate more patients for diagnostic screenings for breast cancer and other breast problems,” said Eric Gilliam, president, Saint Joseph East. “This expansion will give our staff the facilities and technology needed to provide wellness, healing and hope for women and men in our community.”
The Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation provided $250,000 for the project through private donors and dollars raised from its annual gala and golf events.
“We are grateful for the support of our donors that helped make this project possible,” said Sherri Craig, interim president of the Saint Joseph Hospital Foundation and vice president, KentuckyOne Health. “The expansion of breast care services and purchase of the most advanced diagnostic and screening technology on the market will help us care for more women in Lexington and beyond. This work is at the heart of the foundation’s mission.”
Work is scheduled to begin next week and be completed around the end of June. Contractors for the project include Cathy Burgess Interiors, JRA Architects, Shrout Tate Wilson Consulting and Congleton-Hacker Company.
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 200,000 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer and nearly 40,000 women are expected to die from the disease this year. Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since 1989, which is believed to be the result of earlier detection through screening, increased awareness and improved treatment.
About KentuckyOne Health
KentuckyOne Health was formed when two major Kentucky health care organizations came together in early 2012. KentuckyOne Health combines the Jewish and Catholic heritages of the two former systems – Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare and Saint Joseph Health System. In late 2012, the organization formed a partnership with the University of Louisville Hospital | James Graham Brown Cancer Center. The nonprofit system is committed to improving the health of Kentuckians by integrating medical research, education, technology and health care services wherever patients receive care. KentuckyOne Health has more than 200 locations including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies across the state of Kentucky and southern Indiana. KentuckyOne Health is the largest health system in Kentucky.
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Publish date:
Wednesday, May 07, 2014