Cary Medical Center has been named a recipient of the 2014 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s Best Breast Centers, acknowledging its dedication to providing exceptional patient care and treatment.
Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer among American women according to the American Cancer Society, and one in eight women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime. By carrying the Women’s Choice Award seal, the Caribou hospital has signified its commitment to a global mission to elevate the patient experience for women and all patients as one of America’s Best Breast Centers.
“Today, there are nearly three million breast cancer survivors in the United States and we only want to see this number increase,” says Delia Passi, CEO and founder of WomenCertified, home of the Women’s Choice Award. “Breast care is extremely vital to women’s health and we want them to know that Cary Medical Center has met the highest standards in caring for the needs of their female patients. The Women’s Choice Award is the only program that identifies the nation’s best in health care based on patient satisfaction, clinical excellence and what women really want when it comes to treatment and a quality medical experience.”
Cary CEO Kris Doody, RN, MSB, accepted the award and acknowledged the efforts of hospital personnel. “We are so proud of our new Women’s Imaging Center and our staff who provide such incredible service to patients and their families. This recognition with the Women’s Choice Award is further evidence that women in Aroostook County recognize and appreciate the high level of clinical quality and patient satisfaction they experience in our facility.”
With the focus on patient comfort, convenience, and privacy, the Women’s Imaging Center features the most advanced diagnostic mammography services in Northern Maine, including the addition of state-of-the-art digital mammography and stereotactic breast biopsy systems.
According to Dr. Shawn Laferriere, medical director of radiology at Cary, the Women’s Imaging Center features the Siemens Mammomat Inspiration Full-Field Digital Mammography, and Siemens MammoTest Stereotactic Breast Biopsy systems.
The Mammomat Inspiration offers digital screening and diagnostic mammography producing excellent image quality using industry leading technology designed to minimize the patient’s radiation dose and exposure time. There currently is no other unit of its kind north of Boston.
“We are also very proud to bring the first fully digital stereotactic biopsy system to Cary and Aroostook County,” Laferriere continued. “The new breast biopsy system allows for a minimally invasive procedure with increased patient comfort. The system is capable of identifying the smallest calcifications, allowing for a more precise and efficient diagnosis,” he explained. “Patients no longer have to leave Aroostook County for this service.”
“With our existing breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging, (MRI) and breast ultrasound testing capabilities, the addition of our new equipment provides our patients with the most advanced breast diagnostic services in Aroostook County,” Laferriere added.
“Our goal has been to not only bring advanced state-of-the-art technologies to northern Maine, but to also create an overall breast care program designed at improving the coordination of high quality breast care,” he explained. “This means providing same-day diagnostic mammography results for our patients with the opportunity to meet with one of our radiologists and review their exam one-on-one, so that each patient understands their results before they leave the center.”
Complementing the new technology, the Center provides a “spa”-like private patient waiting area and individual changing rooms with personal lockable armoires. The center’s specialty trained mammography team engages patients in a “navigation process” helping women through their procedures whether a routine screening mammogram or a diagnostic exam, making sure the patient has the best possible experience with support from her medical team.
Kim Wilcox, RT (R) (MR) (M), is the Center’s Breast Health Navigator. Kim assists patients with access to all aspects of breast care at Cary by helping to provide more efficient delivery of care, improved sharing of resources, and removal of barriers to care. She is a personal representative for every patient and their families, and is committed to providing the best clinical and personal care, emotional support and educational tools possible.
This is the second year in a row that Cary Medical Center has been recognized by WomenCertified. In 2013 the hospital received the ‘Women’s Choice Award’ for ‘Best Patient Experience in Obstetrics’.
“Being honored with the award for Obstetrics and now receiving the 2014 Women’s Choice Award as one of America’s Best Breast Centers is a humbling experience for us and a tribute to the outstanding performance of our entire healthcare team”, said Doody. “We are so grateful to the many donors, including our own staff, who helped us raise more than $800,000 for the new Women’s Imaging Center and have helped to make this recognition possible.
The Women’s Choice Award helps women and their families by providing recommendations they can trust and use when making health care choices.
“We have found that recommendations are the single most important consideration used by women in selecting a hospital or care center,” added Passi. “By letting women know which breast centers in their area are among America’s best, we are able to reduce risk by helping them make better decisions and smarter health care choices.”
As the collective voice of female consumers, the Women’s Choice Award provides women with recommendations from other women that they can rely upon. The full list of awarded breast centers is available at http://www.womenschoice award.com/awarded/best-
hospitals/breast-centers/
Complementing the new technology, the Center provides a “spa” like atmosphere with a private waiting area 
featuring a unique “Water Wall,” to enhance a relaxing, calming and peaceful patient experience.
The Mammomat Inspiration offers digital screening and diagnostic mammography producing excellent image quality using industry leading technology designed to minimize the patient’s radiation dose and exposure time. There currently is no other unit of its kind north of Boston.
