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Mastectomy Fitter at Saint Joseph Health Center
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| Mary Baltis, certified mastectomy fitter at Saint Joseph Health Center. |
Women recovering after a mastectomy have enough to worry about, but now, getting fit for a prosthesis is getting easier. Carondelet Pharmacy in the Medical Mall at Saint Joseph Health Center now has a certified mastectomy fitter on staff.
After years of working at a family owned pharmacy, Mary Baltis joined Carondelet Pharmacy and was trained by the American Cancer Society as a fitter. She says she gets a lot of satisfaction from helping women recovering from breast cancer. "This was new for me and I'm so amazed at how open they are. We do a lot of talking during a fitting."
Baltis works out of a room in the back of the pharmacy. It's small, but very homey and comfortable. "It allows them to try different things in a very non-threatening and relaxed environment," says Baltis. "If they don't like one thing, we can try another."
Baltis says that it's becoming more common to find mastectomy fitters in pharmacies. And she adds there is an art to it. "And I'm learning the art," she laughs. "I learn so much from the women who come in here. They are unbelievable."
For more information, call Mary Baltis at 816-943-4879.
St. Mary's Hospital's Sleep Lab Expands
The Sleep Lab operated by St. Mary's Hospital has expanded from two sleeping rooms to four.
"The backlog for studies was just too long," says Mark Yotter, RRT, coordinator of the Sleep Lab. "People were having to wait four to six weeks to have a study. Now we've got it down to a one to two week wait."
Yotter says the need for more space meant another move. The Sleep Lab moved from the Hilton Garden Hotel back to the Adam's Mark Hotel near the stadium.
For more information about the sleep lab, call 816-655-5237.
Pulmonary Rehab at SMHBS Moves on Up
The Pulmonary Rehabilitation at St. Mary's Hospital is moving up in the world. Actually, it's moving from sharing time in Cardiac Rehab and a few machines in the Pulmonary Department to it's own space on the second floor of the hospital.
"We really needed our own space to serve our patients," says Lorraine Hodge, CRT. "This allows us to offer pulmonary rehab three times a week instead of twice a week. We could eventually expand to five days a week."
Ten percent of the population suffers from chronic lung disease. It is, in fact, the fourth leading killer in the United States. Pulmonary rehabilitation focuses on evaluation, education and exercise.
For more information, call 816-655-5236.
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