Belleville Hospital Gets Mammogram Funding From Komen NJ

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of Clara Maass Medical Center. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site here.

Komen North Jersey, an affiliate of Susan G. Komen has awarded a $27,448 grant to Clara Maass Medical Center to support screening, mammograms and diagnostic services for low-income and uninsured women of African-American and Latino descent between the ages of 40 and 59 that reside in Essex, Hudson and Bergen counties of New Jersey.

The program is designed to provide screening mammograms, and if needed, diagnostic mammograms and biopsies to 150 women through March 2019. The grant will also help to improve access to healthcare by providing assistance with copayments, if needed and supports the cost of a patient navigator to personally guide patients through the process of scheduling, and receiving treatment and follow-up care.

“Thanks to the generosity of Komen North Jersey, Clara Maass will help even more women receive the care that they need, when it is needed” said Mary Ellen Clyne, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Clara Maass Medical Center.

“For various reasons, many younger women from minority backgrounds do not routinely receive regular breast cancer screenings” said Hannah Kotch, MD, Diagnostic Radiologist at Clara Maass Medical Center. Kotch will also serve as the Director of the grant program at Clara Maass. “Through our new program, Clara Maass will now be able to address this trend. For those who may require treatment and support beyond screening, we have a team of experts that can tailor a treatment plan that is appropriate for each patient” Kotch said. Kotch is Board-Certified by the American Board of Radiology, and is an expert in breast imaging interpretation, minimally invasive breast intervention techniques, and general diagnostic imaging.

“From start to finish, we use a team approach to help every patient navigate the breast health process” said Rachelle Leong, MD, Breast Surgeon at Clara Maass Medical Center. “Thanks to Komen North Jersey, more women will be able to access quality breast care at Clara Maass” Leong said.

Komen North Jersey is one of more than seventy Komen affiliates in the world’s largest breast cancer organization, working in communities across the U.S. to meet the most critical needs. To help achieve Komen’s goal to reduce current breast cancer deaths by 50 percent in the U.S. by 2026, Komen Affiliates fund innovative breast health projects that provide vitally needed breast cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment services and support, including patient navigation, education, medical supplies and financial assistance.

“This year, we selected grantees that would contribute to our overarching goal of reducing barriers to quality breast cancer care typically experienced by uninsured and underinsured women in North Jersey” said Tina Jacobs, Director of Community Health at Komen North Jersey. “We are confident that the Breast Cancer Screening and Navigation Program at Clara Maass Medical Center will meet the need of increasing breast screenings, and will encourage regular mammograms among women of color in our community.”

Appointments are required and can be scheduled by contacting the Radiology Department at 973-450-2045.

For a physician referral or more information about Clara Maass, call 1-888-724-7123 or visit www.rwjbh.org/claramaass

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