Boca Raton Regional Hospital Helps Reduce Patient Anxiety During Mammogram

Hospital second in the nation and first in Florida to install GE Healthcare’s SensorySuite helping make a mammogram more relaxing and improve compliance rates

Boca Raton Regional Hospital’s Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute is the first in the state of Florida to operate the SensorySuite by GE Healthcare. SensorySuite surrounds a woman with an interactive mammography experience designed to simultaneously stimulate three senses: sight, smell and hearing, helping to distract the patient from any perceived discomfort, pain and anxiety of a mammogram.

“It is our belief that the SensorySuite will provide a woman with a sense of serenity through its calming environment while still utilizing the most state-of-the-art mammography technology. It is the perfect combination of high tech and high touch,” said, Kathy Schilling, MD, Medical Director of the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute.

A recent study performed by GE Healthcare with 250 patients in two different SensorySuite sites showed that 64.4 percent of women felt relaxed during the mammogram examination and 99.6 percent of all the patients were likely to return to the same facility for their next mammogram. By giving women the control to choose from one of three environmental ambiances - seaside, garden or waterfall - SensorySuite aims to encourage a better overall mammography experience and enhanced cooperation and compliance.

“Mammograms play an essential role in the early detection of breast cancer and therefore, survival rate. However, it can be perceived as uncomfortable and intimidating. Statistics show that one out of four women avoid getting mammograms,” said Prahlad Singh, General Manager, Women’s Health, GE Healthcare. “SensorySuite helps improve a patient’s experience by providing a customized environment. We believe that improving patient experience is a major factor to increase breast screening compliance. GE Healthcare is committed to advancing breast cancer care by delivering breakthrough technology and focusing on who is most important: the patient.”

With more than 90,000 diagnostic procedures a year, Boca Raton Regional Hospital is a recognized leader in breast care with a focus on serving and caring for the unique needs of women at every stage of their lives. “Through the addition of the SensorySuite, we combine our outstanding physician expertise with the latest in technology in an environment that enhances the emotional comfort of a patient having a mammogram,” said Shakira Sarquis-Kolber, Director of Women’s Imaging at the Institute.

In October of 2010, Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation announced a $10 million donation from philanthropist Christine E. Lynn to name the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Health & Wellness Institute at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The transformational gift was an important step in the creation of a regional destination for women’s health services at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. The new institute will serve as a “centralized address” for women’s healthcare needs and information, providing a convenient one-stop shop for women, with coordinated access to the broad spectrum of services at Boca Raton Regional Hospital. A comprehensive array of integrated services will be specifically targeted to women as they pass through the continuum of healthcare issues during their lifetime, from reproductive years and maternity care through menopause and aging. Boca Regional broke ground on the new Institute on April 23rd and expects the $22 million facility to be completed in the summer of 2015.

About Boca Raton Regional Hospital – Advancing the boundaries of medicine.

Boca Raton Regional Hospital is an advanced, tertiary medical center (brrh.com) with 400 beds and more than 800 primary and specialty physicians on staff. The Hospital is a recognized leader in oncology, cardiovascular disease and surgery, minimally invasive surgery, orthopedics, women’s health, emergency medicine and the neurosciences, all of which offer state-of-the-art diagnostic and imaging capabilities. The Hospital is a designated Comprehensive Stroke Center by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

Boca Raton Regional Hospital is the recipient of the 2014 Distinguished Hospital Award for Clinical ExcellenceTM for the 10th year in a row and was named one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals in 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 both by Healthgrades®. Boca Raton Regional Hospital was also recognized for the third consecutive year in U.S. News & World Report’s 2013-2014 Best Hospitals listing as a top-ranked hospital in the South Florida metropolitan area.

Contact:
Thomas Chakurda, 561.955.3586
Vice President, Marketing
Boca Raton Regional Hospital
tchakurda@brrh.com

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