For the fifth consecutive year, Shepherd's Hope and Sand Lake Imaging are partnering to provide free mammograms to women in need through their "Get a Mammogram, Give a Mammogram" initiative. Throughout the month of October, for each new patient who gets a mammogram at Sand Lake Imaging, the facility will donate a free screening mammogram to an uninsured Shepherd's Hope patient. Since 2013, Sand Lake Imaging has donated hundreds of mammograms through this program.
One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer - the most common cancer among women. Screening mammograms can detect cancer early and help reduce breast cancer mortality. Many women in Central Florida will forgo screenings as a result of cost and/or lack of health insurance.
"Getting annual mammograms can be a life-saving decision," said Marni Stahlman, president and CEO of Shepherd's Hope. "We are thankful that our ongoing partnership with Sand Lake Imaging allows us to provide local uninsured women with this necessary medical examination at no charge."
Shepherd's Hope provides free primary and secondary medical services to the one in four Central Floridians who are uninsured or underinsured, including children, at five health center locations in Central Florida. An estimated 850,000 Floridians remain in a gray area ? the coverage "gap" in regards to insurance availability. They earn too much to qualify for some programs, but not enough to afford products offered on the Healthcare.gov exchange - even with federal subsidies, because of out-of-reach deductibles and co-payments.
"Mammography has been shown to save lives and is central to the marked decline in mortality from breast cancer," said Dr. Robert Posniak, women's specialty radiologist and president of Sand Lake Imaging. "Sand Lake Imaging strongly encourages women to continue to obtain their annual mammograms beginning at age 40. The newest technology of 3D mammography allows us to identify smaller breast cancer at an earlier stage. We are pleased to continue our relationship with Shepherd's Hope and provide this service to the uninsured patients they serve."
To schedule a screening mammogram appointment at any of Sand Lake Imaging's three facilities, located in Orlando, Maitland and Lady Lake, call 407-363-2772.
About Shepherd's Hope Shepherd's Hope is the leading voice for the uninsured and underinsured in Central Florida. Founded in 1997, the faith-based nonprofit organization provides free primary care and specialty care medical services to uninsured men, women and children from five free standing health centers in Orange and Seminole counties. In 2016, Shepherd's Hope provided 17,128 free patient visits and medical services thanks to partnerships with 2,300 licensed medical and general volunteers, 3 community hospital systems, 100 diagnostic/surgical providers and 23 multi-faith partners. To learn more, visit www.shepherdshope.org or call (407) 876-6699.
About Sand Lake Imaging Sand Lake Imaging is committed to providing the highest quality diagnostic imaging to the patients and physicians of the Central Florida community in a cost-effective and timely manner. The staff and radiologists recognize that, in the performance of their duties, they must continually seek to improve services while remaining sensitive to patients' needs. Learn more at SandLakeImaging.com or (407) 3632772.
