STHS's newest clinic raises the bar on breast care

Newsroom

Newsroom

Search News

Search
More Filters

Friday, February 26, 2021

News

Share this page

STHS's newest clinic raises the bar on breast care

Mike Scott, mscott@stph.org

St. Tammany  Health System’s new Breast Disease and High Risk Clinic is adjacent to the health system’s Women’s Pavilion, at 301 N. Hwy. 190 in Covington. That proximity is no accident. (STHS photo)

It’s among the first questions out of the mouth of anyone diagnosed with breast cancer: So, what now?

For residents of the Northshore, the answer is easier than ever: St. Tammany Health System’s new Breast Disease and High-Risk Clinic, which opened in September 2020.

Patients can think of it as information central for patients diagnosed with breast cancer, as well as those considered at high risk of developing it in the future.

It’s also, however, a key cog in St. Tammany Health System’s multidisciplinary approach to comprehensive breast care.

That starts with its location next to the health system’s Women’s Pavilion – which was by no means an accident.

“This proximity fosters collaboration between our radiologists and nurse navigator, our surgeons and our breast nurse practitioner, who is onsite daily,” said Melonie Lagalante, STHS assistant vice president of outpatient and diagnostic services. “The intent is to provide a bridge between diagnosis and treatment, and also offer ongoing support to breast cancer patients.”

STHS Nurse Practitioner Kelly Crim MSN, who is part of the High Risk Clinic team, said that type of collaboration is crucial to providing the best care possible. 

Because of this, our quality of care is great, and our patients' quality of life is greater."

- Nurse Practitioner Kelly Crim MSN of STHS's Breast Disease and High Risk Clinic

“There are a lot of moving parts involved with breast care,” Crim said, “and the quality of care is significantly improved when those moving parts communicate well.”

For Crim, that involves serving as a patient resource and point of contact, with a focus on education, counseling, genetics and support service referrals.

But it also includes working with the world-class radiologists at the Women’s Pavilion, which is certified as an American College of Radiology Breast Imaging Center of Excellence; as well as with Dr. Angela Buonagura, a breast surgeon working out of a satellite office of STHS’s Northlake Surgical Associates located at the High Risk Clinic; and Certified Patient Navigator Cindy Turner, who helps guide patients through their breast care journey.

“We take care of patients across the spectrum of breast disease diagnosis, treatment and surveillance,”  Crim said. “From imaging to surgery, genetics to research, patient navigation, risk reduction and survivorship, we provide access to care across the full continuum of breast cancer.”

To further fuel that collaboration, members of the STHS multidisciplinary breast care team – including radiologists, oncologists, breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, genetics specialists, pathologists, patient navigators, support services and others – meet bimonthly at multidisciplinary breast conferences to discuss the specifics of patient care.

The upshot: More coordination between specialties – and, for patients, a more seamless healthcare experience.

“Because of this,” Crim said, “our quality of care is great, and our patients’ quality of life is greater.”

Learn more about St. Tammany Health System’s comprehensive breast care program at StTammany.health/BreastCare.


St. Tammany Health System
Breast Disease and High Risk Clinic

301 N. Hwy 190 Suite C-2
Covington, LA 70433
P: (985)773-1515

www.StTammany.health/BreastClinic

Featured Videos

Video

Get in the Game with St. Tammany UNITED

As October draws to an end, it’s incredible how swiftly time has passed! Today, we celebrated the many achievements of our...

Friday, Nov 1, 2024

Video

Get in the Game with St. Tammany UNITED

As October draws to an end, it’s incredible how swiftly time has passed! Today, we celebrated the many achievements of our...

Friday, Nov 1, 2024

Video

Community Checkup with Joan Coffman for October 2024

As the calendar changes from October to November, President and CEO Joan Coffman catches you up on all that’s going on at...

Thursday, Oct 31, 2024

Video

Community Checkup with Joan Coffman for October 2024

As the calendar changes from October to November, President and CEO Joan Coffman catches you up on all that’s going on at...

Thursday, Oct 31, 2024

Video

Pink Partner profile: Timeless Touch

Meet Brittani Naccari Farrell, Owner/Injector of Timeless Touch Medical Aesthetics in downtown Covington. We are thrilled...

Monday, Oct 28, 2024

Video

Pink Partner profile: Timeless Touch

Meet Brittani Naccari Farrell, Owner/Injector of Timeless Touch Medical Aesthetics in downtown Covington. We are thrilled...

Monday, Oct 28, 2024

Connect