STEVENS POINT — A community-supported effort more than two years in the making to improve access to
breast care services at Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital has come to fruition.

The Ascension St. Michael’s Breast Care Center, which became a reality as the result of a $4 million Hope is Building Campaign, celebrated its grand opening on Oct. 25. The campaign provided support for construction, equipment and the establishment of the Angel Fund to ensure that every woman can obtain breast care services if they do not have insurance or have insurance that does not pay for breast care or mammograms.

Services at the center are streamlined to provide everything patients need in one convenient location, with caregivers working collaboratively to provide an enhanced level of personal attention and responsiveness in a healing environment.

“This new Breast Care Center will provide personalized multi-disciplinary centralized care that is essential for all women and their families who are navigating a difficult journey,” said Debra Standridge, regional president, north region, Ascension Wisconsin, in a news release. “Ascension is steadfast and committed to bridging the gap for underserved women to ensure all have access to quality healthcare with exceptional outcomes provided by outstanding healthcare professionals in all the communities we serve,”

The Ascension St. Michael’s Breast Care Center includes:

• A centralized location for clinicians to collaborate and respond compassionately and rapidly to patient
concerns
• A dedicated procedural area to provide expanded services to breast patients, all in one location
• State-of-the-art equipment, including 3-D mammography/tomosynthesis, stereotactic biopsy capabilities,
ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsy capabilities
• Personalized care to be delivered through a new, dedicated space to integrate care, from screening, to
treatment, to recovery, to life beyond cancer
• A dedicated space to deliver resources to patients and their families through education and support
groups

Photo courtesy Ascension. Hope is Building Campaign co-chairs Joe and Cindy Kinsella; from left; co-chairwoman Kim Hodgson; Christopher “Kit” Swiecki, MD., general surgeon, Ascension St. Michael’s Hospital; Felicia Van Lysal, Angel Fund Superhero and breast cancer survivor; and Steve Hodgson campaign co-chairman.