Raising funds to enhance women's lives

Sonoma County is one of the most desirable places to live in the United States. Some Sonoma County families live very comfortably while some, including those with two working parents, struggle to afford housing and food. It is home to women who run corporations, pick crops, practice medicine, produce art, and raise children. It is a community where women with little else in common will know someone whose life will be dramatically changed by one of the following facts:

• Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in the United States
• Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in women in the United States.
• The highest concentration of breast cancer in the United States is found in the San Francisco Bay Area.
• Nearly 400 Sonoma County women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year.
• About 85 Sonoma County women will die of breast cancer this year.
• Over half of the10 million Americans over age 50 have osteoporosis (80% are women)

Some of the services made possible by philanthropy:

Women's Health Center  |  Breast Care Services  |  Technology  |  Nurse Navigator Program  |  Lymphedema Program  |  Integrated Health and Healing Program  |  Osteoporosis  |  Women’s Heart Advantage Program

Women's Health Center

The Sutter Pacific Medical Foundation Women’s Health Center (WHC) opened in 1998 as an off-site, outpatient department of Sutter Santa Rosa. Services at the WHC are designed to supplement and support local physicians by providing select diagnostic services, health education, consultation, and wellness and prevention programs that address women’s unique health care needs. The Center embraces a philosophy of care that educates, motivates and advocates for the women it serves-a philosophy that simply states that the best care each woman is that which is consistent with her own desires and personal choices. This philosophy underpins every WHC service and business decision.

The Lily Tomlin Women’s Health Resource Library provides a wide variety of educational materials and internet access for researching health-related topics. The library is open to the public, free of charge.
Back to top

Breast Care Services

Thanks to tremendous support from community donors in partnership with Sutter Santa Rosa, the Breast Care Center opened its doors in October 2004. Located inside the Women’s Health Center, the Breast Care Center is truly a “center within a center”. The Breast Care Center has advanced technology, expert staff, and the space to house many needed services under one roof. One place, one team, everyone working together with the latest technologies on behalf of the patient. The programs and their patient-centered philosophy are fundamentally changing the experience of women facing a breast cancer diagnosis in Sonoma County.

The Breast Care Center (BCC) is an integral aspect of the Women's Health Center and was developed in response to the increasing need and demand for a coordinated, compassionate, woman-focused team approach to assist patients and their families through all the phases of breast cancer care: its diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. Because the patient benefits most when she has all of her health care providers collaborating, the experts at the BCC work closely with surgical, oncological, and radiation specialists in the community and support implementation of high quality medical services for all women regardless of where they receive their care. In this way, the BCC serves as an advocate by focusing on the importance of breast cancer care and pushing to improve the quality of that care throughout the community.
Back to top

Technology

The Women’s Health Center is committed to reducing the morbidity of breast cancer by focusing on early detection through the use of advanced technology (i.e. digital mammography, ultrasound, and dedicated breast MRI), as well as identifying women at high risk for developing cancer.

Sutter Santa Rosa is proud to be the leader in bringing the latest, most cutting edge technology to the women of Sonoma County. We were first to provide digital mammography and now, thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are the first to bring dedicated breast MRI to the community. While this technology is instrumental in saving lives, it is only possible when used by the highest skilled medical experts. The Women’s Health Center is fortunate to have two renowned radiologists leading a team of very talented technicians who share a passion for detecting cancer at the earliest-and most treatable-stages.
Back to top

Nurse Navigator Program

The Nurse Navigator program is a specially trained registered nurse that helps women who have diagnosed with breast cancer make informed, creative, and life-affirming movement toward recovery. In a way that respects the core values of each woman, the Navigator provides accurate information about treatment options. She also provides emotional support and connections to vital community services.
Back to top

Lymphedema Program

Another important service available at the Breast Cancer Care Center is the Lymphedema program. Lymphedema is a common preventable complication of breast cancer that develops in about 25% of post-surgical patients. The Breast Cancer Center currently provides Lymphedema prevention classes and plans to add a treatment program. This is only program of its kind in Sonoma County!
Back to top

Integrated Health and Healing Program

The health care providers at the Women's Health Center believe in the healing power of complementary therapies. Studies have demonstrated that modalities such as massage, acupuncture, and guided imagery may enhance the benefits of traditional cancer treatment but these therapies are usually not covered by health insurance. Since November of 2003, free or low fee complementary therapies have been provided at a Saturday clinic twice a month to low income cancer patients. Now, in partnership with the Integrative Medicine Clinic and Drs. Ellen Barnett and Bob Dozier, we offer this clinic every Saturday. There are also many other free and low-cost classes/groups including:

• Yoga
• Essential Movement
• Wellness for Women Living With Breast Cancer
• Heart Healthy Living For Women
• Breast Cancer Survivors Writing Group
• Breast Cancer Support Group

Back to top

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is a major public health threat for an estimated 44 million Americans, or 55 percent of people 50 years of age and older. In the U.S. today, 10 million individuals, including 8 million women, are estimated to already have the disease and almost 34 million more are estimated to have low bone mass, placing them at increased risk. Osteoporosis is often called a "silent disease" because bone loss occurs without symptoms.

Bone density screenings are the best way to detect early signs of osteoporosis and should be done every two years after the age of 50. The Women’s Health Resource Center has purchased a new state-of-the art digital bone density scanner for optimal quality and performs more bone density screenings than any other facility in the county.
Back to top

Women’s Heart Advantage Program

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for America women. However, most women are not aware of their risk are often overlooked as being unnecessary or unimportant. Currently, the Women’s Health Center has a significant opportunity to assist the medical community by effectively and efficiently screening and educating low-income and underserved women for cardiovascular disease each year and identifying those that may be at high risk for cardiovascular disease. Through the Women’s Heart Advantage Program, we are partnering with local community health centers to provide their female patients with educational material about heart disease and to offer the opportunity to undergo free and effective screening for cardiovascular disease risk factors. Patients will be screened for the most significant modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease: hyperlipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, obesity and smoking.

Based on published studies of community based heat disease screening programs, it is predicted that as many as 48% of these women will be identified as being at intermediate risk or high risk for cardiovascular disease. Those that are identified at high risk are immediately referred for medical follow-up. Everyone else is helped to develop a personal risk-reduction plan designed to empower them to make positive lifestyle changes. A follow-up screening is offered every six months.

"Because Life is Precious and Meaningful…"

Back to top