St. Luke just got approved to receive an $185,000 grant from the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust to help purchase a Selenia Digital Mammography Unit, but only if we raise the remaining $185,000.
Breast cancer kills more women than any other cause except for lung cancer. The good news is that the death rate from breast cancer is declining due to earlier detection and improved treatment.
Benefits of digital mammography include: reduced radiation exposure, more room for adjustments by radiologists so less call backs, lower false positive rates and therefore fewer unnecessary biopsies, simplified record retrieval, including immediate electronic transmittal for physicians and radiological referrals and assessments and simply.......digital mammography gives a clearer and more detailed image.
Ronan Dentist, Dr. Steve Culp has become involved with the St. Luke Foundation in this digital mammography project "because I can see how this new technology can help save lives through early detection." He added that "digital is definitely the route to go. I've seen all of the new equipment that the St. Luke Imaging department has first hand and I am extremely impressed with how progressive they are."
St. Luke CEO Shane Roberts pointes out that "digital mammography keeps us on the leading edge of early detection with an added bonus of in the long run reducing costs to the patient and to the facility."
Friends come in many forms. Your St. Luke Hospital friends are here to take care of you when you're not feeling well. As your community hospital, we take an interest in understanding you and your healthcare needs. Our friendship with you is about trust and quality care. It is because of this long-term friendship and knowing your needs that the hospital's beautiful expansion project has evolved. St. Luke's number one priority is to provide the most affordable, most modern solutions to your healthcare needs.
These solutions include new "Convenient Care Clinic" for those times you do not really need the Emergency Room but cannot get into your doctor's office, and the beautiful spacious birthing suites to make the new mother and newborns feel secure and comfortable.
As a friend of St. Luke, we are asking for your help. You see, the St. Luke Foundation has a goal to raise $185,000 dollars for a new digital mammography unit. Thus far, our friends have gifted and/or pledged $95,000 towards the campaign. Did you know that you may stretch your gift over a three to five year period? Please join us and make your gift or pledge today.
If you have any questions about this project or other St. Luke health programs/departments to sponsor, please contact the Executive Director at the Foundation. We would also be delighted to visit with you about the many ways you can help continue the St. Luke "Standard of Excellence in Healthcare".
Thank you for your consideration and kind gifts.
Warmest Regards,
Andy Stark, Karen Dellwo, and Mark Nelson
p.s. you can make
a secure donation to St. Luke's providing specific determination of how your gift will be used.
Don't forget........The sooner we reach our $1850,000 goal the sooner we can get digital mammography on-line for the Mission Valley. We must raise the matching funds to receive the Murdock Grant. 
St. Luke Community Healthcare Foundation