Breast Care : St. David's HealthCare

St. David's South Austin Medical Center Earns American College of Radiology Accreditation

reedsmith — Wed, 02 May 2012 19:11:38 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas-St. David's South Austin Medical Center has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). MRI is a noninvasive medical test that utilizes magnetic fields to produce anatomical images of internal body parts to help physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

St. David's South Austin Medical Center
St. David's South Austin Medical Center, located at 901 West Ben White Boulevard, is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters in January 2012. St. David's South Austin Medical Center is an acute care facility with 292 beds, offering a range of complex specialties and sub-specialties, including a comprehensive and nationally recognized cardiac program, full-service maternity and newborn care with Level I and II nurseries, and a thriving 24-hour emergency department, among others. In 2010, the medical center launched a comprehensive $72-million renovation and expansion effort, to be completed in 2012. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

St. David's Women's Center of Texas Offers Latest Stereotactic Technology for Mammograms

korr — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:56:25 GMT

New Equipment Improves the Quality, Accuracy and Ease of Breast Biopsies

AUSTIN-St. David's Women's Center of Texas, located at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, has expanded its health and wellness services available to women with the addition of the MultiCare PlatinumT and Suros ATEC� Breast Biopsy and Excision System for use under stereotactic (x-ray) imaging.

These platforms, manufactured by Hologic, Inc., are state-of-the-art systems designed to improve the quality, accuracy and ease of breast biopsies. The process uses advanced computer-assisted technology, known as digital stereotactic localization, to map the precise site of a breast abnormality before a tissue sample is taken for analysis.

"Breast biopsies are imperative to identifying and diagnosing breast cancer, and early detection is the key to successful treatment and recovery," Newell Dutton, M.D., an interventional radiologist and the chief of radiology at St. David's Women's Center of Texas, said. "The St. David's Women's Center of Texas is committed to providing exceptional care to the women in our community, and we hope these new systems will help make their biopsy experience more comfortable."

The unique design of the MultiCare table allows a woman to be in a prone position while the biopsy is being performed, providing maximum comfort. The ATEC is a fully closed system that uses vacuum-assisted technology to perform a true one-minute breast biopsy. The precision of the ATEC allows for larger, more intact tissue samples. Samples are obtained through a very small incision in the skin, eliminating the need for post-biopsy stitches, and minimizing procedure and wound-healing times. This allows most patients to return to daily activities immediately following the procedure.

St. David's Women's Center of Texas works collaboratively with the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas to provide a comprehensive scope of services addressing the physical, emotional and educational needs of its patients. Every patient receives personalized care designed to meet her individual needs, with highly trained staff and state-of-the-art equipment.

For more information about the St. David's Women's Center of Texas and the Breast Cancer Resource Center, please call (512) 901-6623, or visit St.Davids.com.

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St. David's North Austin Medical Center
St. David's North Austin Medical Center, located at 12221 North Mopac Expressway, is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters in January 2012. The 332-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility is dedicated to the highest level of women's health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David's Women's Center of Texas, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, the Texas Institute for Robotic Surgery, heart and vascular center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

St. David's South Austin Medical Center Names New Director of Women's Services

korr — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 08:57:12 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas-St. David's South Austin Medical Center has named Tina Mendiola, RN, BSN, RNC-OB, MBA, director of women's services. In this role, she will oversee the labor and delivery unit, postpartum unit, nursery and neonatal intensive care unit.

"We have been serving women, including expectant mothers, in South Austin for nearly 30 years, and we believe that Tina will be instrumental in continuing to build upon the success of our exceptional women's services program," Todd Steward, chief executive officer of St. David's South Austin Medical Center, said. "Her extensive record of delivering superior patient care is unmatched."

Prior to working at St. David's South Austin Medical Center, Mendiola served as the director of the Center for Women's and Pediatric Services at Bayshore Medical Center in Pasadena, Texas, for nearly five years. In this role, she managed the operations of the labor and delivery, post partum and pediatric units. During her time at Bayshore Medical Center, Mendiola increased patient satisfaction rates to superior levels and consistently ranked in the top 10 percent of HCA-Hospital Corporation of America, St. David's HealthCare's parent company-hospitals in patient satisfaction scores for women's services.

She also served as a labor and delivery charge nurse at Mainland Medical Center in Texas City; a clinical nurse at The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston; a labor and delivery charge nurse at St. Joseph Hospital in Houston; and a staff nurse at Clear Lake Regional Hospital in Webster, Texas.

Mendiola received a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in 2004, and went on to earn her Master of Business in Healthcare Administration from the University of Phoenix in 2010.

She is a member of the Association of Women's Health-Obstetric & Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN) and is certified by the National Certification Corporation in inpatient obstetrics. Additionally, she is a certified neonatal resuscitation instructor, as well as an AWHONN fetal monitor instructor.

St. David's South Austin Medical Center
St. David's South Austin Medical Center, located at 901 West Ben White Boulevard, is part of St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas, which was recognized as one of the top 15 health systems in the U.S. by Thomson Reuters in January 2012. St. David's South Austin Medical Center is an acute care facility with 292 beds, offering a range of complex specialties and sub-specialties, including a comprehensive and nationally recognized cardiac program, full-service maternity and newborn care with Level I and II nurseries, and a thriving 24-hour emergency department, among others. In 2010, the medical center launched a comprehensive $72-million renovation and expansion effort, to be completed in 2012. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

St. David's HealthCare Launches Women's Health Initiative

reedsmith — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:57:11 GMT

AUSTIN, Texas-St. David's HealthCare today announced that it has joined Spirit of Women, an integrated partnership of hospitals and health care systems across the country that aims to drive health action for women and their families, to create St. David's Spirit of Women.

Through St. David's Spirit of Women, St. David's HealthCare will host a wide variety of events, including educational and recreational activities, health screenings, workshops and support groups that will reach women in all stages of their lives.

"St. David's Spirit of Women gives us the ability to provide up-to-the-minute health education to women in our community and their families," Mark Clayton, senior vice president, St. David's HealthCare, said. "Because women make up to 85 percent of household health care decisions, we anticipate St. David's HealthCare's educational and motivational St. David's Spirit of Women initiatives to positively impact the entire family and our community as a whole."

St. David's HealthCare executives say St. David's Spirit of Women health education events will have an element of fun that reinforces the serious medical information being discussed. To learn more about women's health and upcoming St. David's Spirit of Women events, visit StDavidsWomen.com.

St. David's HealthCare
With more than 60 sites across Central Texas, St. David's HealthCare includes seven of the area's leading hospitals and is one of the largest health systems in Texas. Known for compassionate, high-quality care, the organization has been recognized with the Texas Award for Performance Excellence, the highest honor bestowed by the State of Texas based upon world-class quality measures. Ranked as one of the Top Workplaces in 2010 by the Austin American-Statesman-as well as the top Austin-area employer among large companies at the Austin Business Journal's annual "Best Places to Work" event in 2007, 2008 and 2009-St. David's HealthCare is the third-largest private employer in the Austin area, with more than 7,100 employees. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

Spirit of Women
The Spirit of Women Hospital Network is a national coalition that inspires health and wellness on a local level by leveraging national resources. Hospitals and health care facilities in more than 95 U.S. communities create the core through which Spirit of Women reaches women andseeks to inspire access and action for better national health. Utilizing a variety of means, including educational events, national awards and promotion of research, Spirit of Women addresses health topics such as menopause, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, healthy pregnancy and many others. Visit www.spiritofwomen.com for more information.

St. David's Women's Center of Texas, at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, Provides Free Mammograms to Uninsured and Underinsured Patients

reedsmith — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 07:20:44 GMT

St. David's Women's Center of Texas, located at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, is currently providing mammograms to uninsured and underinsured patients through a national grant awarded to the Breast Cancer Resource Center of Texas (BCRC), which has an office located at this St. David's North Austin Medical Center and at additional locations in Travis, Williamson and Hays counties.

Because of this generous grant from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, women 40 to 65 years of age, with qualifying incomes, will have access to these benefits.

St. David's Women's Center of Texas will work with the BCRC to provide these services to women who are least likely to be screened-low income, underinsured or completely uninsured women.

"This grant allows us to help women in North Austin who are in tough financial situations maintain a healthy, cancer-free life," Ken Mitchell, M.D., chief medical officer at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, said. "By providing mammograms to these patients, we greatly improve the chances that breast cancer will be detected early and successfully treated."

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in Texas. This year there will be approximately 200,000 new cases of breast cancer in the U.S., according to the National Cancer Institute. BCRC offers women's services to more than 5,000 women in Central Texas, including Travis, Williamson, Bastrop, Hays, Lee and other rural counties.

This is the third year the National Breast Cancer Foundation has awarded BCRC a $35,000 grant that allows the organization to work with area hospitals to continue providing free women's services.

"We are thrilled to partner with area medical facilities, such as St. David's Women's Center of Texas, to provide these services for women who otherwise may not be able to afford them," Dianna Petrick, the director of North Austin Services for the BCRC, said. "We're thankful for the continued support from the National Breast Cancer Foundation and Austin's health care community."

For more information on these services, and to see if you qualify, please call 512-901-6644.

St. David's North Austin Medical Center

St. David's North Austin Medical Center, located at 12221 North Mopac Expressway, is owned by St. David's HealthCare, one of the largest health systems in Texas. The 332-bed multi-specialty, acute care facility is dedicated to the highest level of women's health services, including maternity and newborn care with Level I, II and III nurseries at the adjacent St. David's Women's Center of Texas, as well as a 24-hour emergency department, heart and vascular center, neurology and neurosurgery, a kidney transplant program, inpatient and outpatient surgery, and acute inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, among many others. For more information, please visit StDavids.com.

About the Breast Cancer Resource Centers (BCRC) of Texas

As breast cancer survivors, the BCRC helps women of any age, culture, education, profession and financial status navigate from diagnosis through recovery, and all services are free of charge.

Founded in 1995, the BCRC now serves close to 5,000 clients each year from six locations and offers a helpline to provide immediate support; weekly orientations to clarify diagnosis and treatment options and provide information about available resources, a lending library including a special Children's Resource Collection to assist parents in explaining breast cancer to their children, peer-to-peer supports, a number of support groups and physical recovery information. The BCRC program for the medically underserved provides a multicultural, bilingual, multiracial team of staff and volunteers that work with the women being treated in the breast clinic of the Shivers Cancer Center at Brackenridge Hospital. The team assists patients by providing emotional support and by aiding with the practical matters of filling out forms and formulating questions for the physicians. The BCRC also has offices at St. David's Professional Building in Round Rock, The Women's Center at St. David's North Austin Medical Center, St. David's Georgetown Cancer Treatment Center and their newest location at the Central Texas Medical Center in San Marcos. Learn more about the Breast Cancer Resource Centers of Texas services and events at http://www.bcrc.org.