Profiles/Success Stories

We are pleased to announce Komen Iowa Affiliate's 2012 grant slate, awarding more than $700,000 to the following recipients:

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center “The Breast Health Project”

Buena Vista Regional Medical Center announces the availability of no cost mammogram services to women in Buena Vista County and surrounding area. Mammogram and related breast services will be provided at no charge to women who qualify and meet income guidelines. Family Health Center, Buena Vista Clinic and the United Community Health Center located in Storm Lake, Iowa are partnering with Buena Vista Regional Medical Center to provide needed services to women. Bilingual breast health education is provided to all participating women. The Center for Women will sponsor breast health education classes 3 times a year for women in the region who are interested. For more information call 712-213-8691 or visit: http://www.bvrmc.org

Cerro Gordo County Department of Public Health “North Iowa Komen Project”

This project will join a 15 county region to expand the breast health portion of the Breast & Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program and enhance education of breast health to drive women to action. The program will provide women access to and to utilize breast health services, by regionalizing services, screening and/or diagnostic services for eligible women, aid women in navigating the health system and provide a public education campaign to move women to action.  For more information call 641-421-9315 or visit: http://www.cghealth.com

Iowa Department of Public Health "Breast Screening for Iowa's Underserved, Low-Income Women"

The Iowa Department of Public Health will provide access to breast screening and diagnostic services to 4,200 low-income, uninsured or underinsured women throughout the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Iowa Affiliate service area. Access to mammography will be targeted to women who are eligible for the Iowa Care for Yourself (CFY) Program. Services will be offered to women who access screening through the enrollment site. This project will work through the CFY Program to reimburse mammography facilities for providing mammography and computer aided detection (CAD) for 600 women. This project will provide reimbursement to facilities for mammography and CAD at the Medicare Part B reimbursement rate whether digital or conventional technology. Women will receive comprehensive breast screening including breast exams prior to mammography.  For more information call 515-242-6067 or visit: www.idph.state.ia.us/careforyourself

Jennie Edmundson Hospital "Breast Health Outreach Coordinator"

The overall purpose of this initiative is three-tiered. Educate women on the importance of breast self- awareness and knowing their risks, increase access to care through building partnerships within the following counties; Pottawattamie, Mills, Cass, Adair, Adams and Audubon as well as provide funds to assist uninsured and/or underserved women with the cost of mammograms and additional diagnostic testing. The Coordinator will also work to promote services to survivors at risk of developing lymphedema and will provide education, treatment and garments to uninsured and/or underserved breast cancer survivors.  For more information call 712-396-7789 or visit: http://www.jennieedmundson.org

Loring Hospital “You’re Worth It”

Loring Hospital’s You’re Worth It spreads breast cancer awareness and provides mammograms to low-income women. You’re Worth It focuses on busy women – the caregiver, taxi driver, cook, maid, and more, while being a mother, wife, or grandmother bringing attention to the one hour a year for a mammogram, and five minutes for a self-exam every month.  For more information call 712-662-7105 or visit: http://www.loringhospital.org

Peoples Community Health Clinic, Inc. “Improving access to mammography”

The purpose of “Improving access to mammography” is to assure that women ages 40-65 who are covered by the limited benefit IowaCare program receive recommended breast health screening by mammography.  The program will improve awareness and compliance among PCHC medical providers in conducting and ordering recommended breast health screening then assuring access through transportation assistance, care navigation and funding for community-based screening mammography.  For more information call 319-272-4300 or visit http://www.peoples-clinic.com

Polk County Health Department "Polk County Uninsured, Underinsured, and Minority Breast Health Care Program"

Since its existence for 16 plus years, the Polk County Uninsured, Underinsured, and Minority Breast Health Care Program, a community based program, is to provide leadership and coordination of breast care outreach, patient, provider and community education, screening, mammograms, diagnostics, treatment, and case-management (follow-up) services. In the past, Polk County Health Department (PCHD) has provided services to people in fifteen counties, including Polk, through an “open door” policy to serve anyone that lives in any of the 81 counties in the Komen Des Moines Affiliate area. For more information call 515-286-3798 or visit: http://www.polkcountyiowa.gov/health/