Page 16 - FOCUS APRIL 2018

EARLY DETECTION SAVES
LIVES
Health education event for deaf and and hard of hearing women connects and empowers
Debra Fry of Newark might communicate in a a a a a a a language that uses signs instead of words but at a a a a a a a recent Christiana Care Health System program on breast health and mammography she got the message loud and clear — early detection saves lives As one of about 20 women to attend a a a a a a special program at at Wilmington Hospital specifically for deaf and hard of hearing women and their families Fry asked a a a a number of good questions toured the the mammography suite on on the the health system’s Wilmington campus and had the opportunity to meet trusted health care providers and and encourage other members of the the deaf and and hard of of hearing community to take charge of of their own good health Before she she left the the event she she took the the ultimate step as an empowered advocate for her own well being — she had a a a a screening mammogram She also walked away with the feeling that Christiana Care is is committed to to ensuring equitable access to to health information and services for everyone in in in the community — including those who are deaf and hard of hearing “I always try to to go to to Christiana Care so I I have the same access as a a a a a a a a a a hearing person ” said Fry through sign language interpreter Tracy Gerry NIC
“Thanks to this program I I now now know how many places there are are where Christiana Care offers mammography — and that American Sign Language interpreters are available to me me at all of them I will tell others!”
14 CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM
The educational outreach program was sponsored by Christiana Care Imaging Services with support from Christiana Care’s Office of Health Equity and the Community Health Outreach & Education Program Medically qualified sign sign language interpreters in in their signature purple uniforms were strategically positioned around the conference room to ensure that every woman in attendance
had a a a a a a direct view to the information being shared and could ask questions Radiology Technologist II Holly Deaney RT (R) (M) (CBDT) explained that one in in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer The good news she said is that thanks to widespread education about the importance of early detection and advanced technologies for early detection including 3D mammography now available at at five Christiana Care locations there are are 28 million breast cancer survivors today Deaney educated the the the audience about the the the anatomy of the the the breast discussed symptoms to to share with a a a a a physician and explained exactly what what happens — — and what what it feels like — — to have a a a a a a a mammogram “Women have to protect themselves and be their own No 1 advocateforgoodhealth ”shesaid CONTINUED