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Home > News
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| Thursday, September 23, 2010
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Contact: Debra Thompson
Director, RMH Corporate Communications
540-564-5886
Deanna Lam, RN, BSN
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Libbi Fitzgerald, RN, BSN
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Deanna Lam, RN, BSN, has joined the RMH Women’s Center as breast health navigator.
In this role, Lam will provide help for women diagnosed with, or undergoing evaluation for, breast cancer. She will help coordinate care and provide educational resources to breast cancer patients and their families to help them understand test results, maintain self-care activities and know what to expect through treatment.
“The breast health navigator helps patients chart their course through the often complex process of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment,” said Teresa Boshart Yoder, director of Women's Services at RMH. “The numerous tests, physicians, procedures and offices involved can initially feel overwhelming, which is why it’s important to offer this additional level of support.”
Lam will work in collaboration with RMH diagnostic breast health navigator Libbi Fitzgerald, RN, BSN. Fitzgerald assists in scheduling appointments and tests for patients who need further diagnostic testing for potential breast cancer.
Lam has been a nurse at RMH since 1998, previously serving as a clinical coordinator for the RMH Family Birthplace. She earned her associate’s degree in applied sciences in nursing from Blue Ridge Community College, and completed her bachelor of science in nursing at Eastern Mennonite University.
“After working with RMH Family Birthplace for 12 years, I look forward to continue working with women, but on a different level,” Lam said. “When women hear the diagnosis of breast cancer, often that’s all they hear. My role is to answer questions and act as liaison between them and all the medical providers they come in contact with. I’m here to offer support, educate them about the changes their body will undergo during treatment and teach them how to care for themselves through different phases of the journey.”
The RMH breast health navigator position was created in 2005, and the diagnostic breast health navigator role was added in 2009. This year alone, nearly 700 women have received integrated care provided by the breast health navigators at the RMH Women’s Center.
In addition to general surgeons who provide breast surgery, RMH welcomed dedicated breast surgeon Heidi D. Rafferty, MD, in 2008 to form RMH Breast CareRMH Breast Care at the RMH Women’s Center. Dr. Rafferty provides consultation, follow-up, and surgical services for women who have benign or malignant breast conditions. She specializes in breast-sparing surgical techniques and a new surgical procedure for breast cancer that helps dramatically reduce the amount of time required for radiation therapy.
She also offers genetic counseling for women at high risk for breast or ovarian cancer. In addition, she has significant experience in treating disorders associated with breast-feeding and with benign breast disease.
“We are delighted to offer a comprehensive range of services to women dealing with breast disease,” said Boshart-Yoder.
For more information on breast care services at RMH Women’s Center, call 433-4641.
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