Working For Women

Plano offers special programs for women’s health care needs.

Women have unique health needs, and t he Women’s Services department at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano is geared up to help. Here are some of the programs it offers:

Care in the community. Health care travels beyond hospital doors. With the Breast Care for A Lifetime™ program, Emily Gentry, R.N., women’s services coordinator for Baylor Plano, and her colleagues go out into the community to educate women about their risk factors for breast cancer.

“We talk to them about the importance of seeing a physician annually, explain mammogram guidelines and teach them how to do a breast self-exam,” Gentry says.

Watching for trouble. The Baylor Women’s Imaging Center at Plano offers digital mammograms, giving women and their doctors a chance to spot tumors at their earliest, most treatable stages. While the procedure for a digital mammogram is the same as a traditional test, technicians and radiologists can tweak a digital image to improve it for clarity and more accurate diagnosis. The center also offers bone density scans, so women at risk for osteoporosis can check for signs of this silent disease.

Less invasive procedures. Gynecologists on the Baylor Plano medical staff have access to new robotic technology called the daVinci^®S Surgical System, which is used for many types of gynecologic procedures. Women who need hysterectomies, fi broid removal or other operations can often choose this less invasive procedure, which can offer a shorter hospital stay, less pain, fewer complications and a faster recovery.

Finding support. Women with cancer can meet monthly through the “Living Well with Cancer” group. The group discusses the psychological and social side of cancer, covering topics such as spirituality, stress and nutrition.

And, women whose cancer treatment has affected their appearance can join the quarterly “Look Good Feel Better” group. “They discuss how they feel about themselves and their self-esteem,” Gentry says. “And we cover skin care, makeup, choosing a wig and tying scarves. It’s like a girls’ night out—we have a lot of fun and support each other.”

Living well. A comprehensive team of educators is available at Baylor Plano to teach women about nearly any health topic—osteoporosis prevention, weight loss, diabetes, migraines and scoliosis, to name just a few.

By Stephanie Thurrott