St. Luke to once again offer free screening mammograms

Once again, employees of St. Luke Community Healthcare Network have given up part of their paychecks to provide free screening mammograms for women in the Mission Valley who meet certain criteria.

Through the St. Luke Community Healthcare Foundation Employee Giving Program, network employees are invited to contribute one hour of pay per month to the program. Then, a six-member committee, made up of employees, administration staff and foundation board members, meets yearly to consider employee proposals on how to disperse the funds.

"We will have about 50 vouchers available for free screening mammograms for women who qualify," according to Dian Hickethier, a registered radiology technologist and registered mammographer at St. Luke. This is the fifth year that the Ronan hospital has provided the free screening mammograms for uninsured women who could not otherwise afford the service.

Pictured are registered mammographers Marlys Healy and Dian Hickethier, two network members who participate in the Employee Giving Program.

To qualify for St. Luke's free screening program, women must be uninsured, over 40 years of age, have no history of breast cancer or implants and live in the area served by the network. The Montana Breast and Cervical Health Program also offers free mammograms, but those are only available for women over 50 who meet certain income criteria.

Steve Sivak, head of the Imaging Department at St. Luke, reminds women that numerous studies show that early detection can save lives and increase treatment options.

"That's why we encourage women, especially those over 40 to have an annual mammogram and clinical breast exam."

Sivak points out that a patient does not need a doctor's order or referral to receive a mammogram screening and that diagnostic mammograms or ultrasounds are not covered under the screening program. Those who meet the qualifications simply need to call the St. Luke Radiology Department at 528-5272 for details on how to set up a screening.