Funding for Case Management, Information and Assistance, Jo Davies Transportation, Caregiver Services and Health Management is provided under the Older Americans Act through the Northwestern Illinois Area Agency on Aging
.... Serving Stephenson & Jo Daviess Counties
Lincoln Mall
1237 W Galena Ave.
Freeport, IL 61032-3803
1.800.424.6696
815.235.9777
TDD: 815.235.6117
The Rolling Stone - Online Edition
Rolling Stone (Stephenson County) is now available online.
Women’s Diagnostic Center
By Robin Scalise
FHN’s Director of Diagnostic Imaging.
FHN’s Director of Diagnostic Imaging.
As you get older, chances are your healthcare provider is prescribing more tests, from more frequent blood pressure checks to more complicated procedures like colonoscopies. This increased watchfulness is both a part of growing older and a function of advancing technology. Medical science enables us to “catch” diseases and conditions early and treat them before they can do much damage.
When you have your blood pressure checked by one of the FHN Top 50 nurses, for example, we’re helping you monitor one of the biggest risk factors for heart attack, stroke, heart failure and kidney failure. If you notice that your blood pressure readings are getting higher, it’s time to check with your healthcare provider to talk about getting those numbers down.
Taking care of yourself – including having the tests done that your provider recommends – is a good way to maintain your best health. To continue our efforts in improving the health of our communities, FHN recently opened the Women’s Diagnostic Center inside FHN Memorial Hospital in Freeport. The Center brings the latest in digital diagnostic testing to northwest Illinois.
Digital bone densitometry
Our new digital bone densitometry machine uses small amounts of x-ray to measure your bone density at the spine and hip, the places where you’re most likely to develop an osteoporotic fracture.
The machine itself is like a big examination table, where you’ll lie down while the 15-20 minute test is performed.
Full-field digital mammography
Digital mammography is performed just like traditional x-ray mammography, but it yields computer images instead of films. Our radiologists can adjust these images to help them read the images, and the digital files are easy to store and share with your provider.
Research has shown that digital mammography is more accurate for women with dense breast tissue and just as accurate as traditional mammograms for all women.
Mammotome® biopsies
If we find a lump in your breast, you’ll likely be scheduled for a biopsy, where a radiologist removes number of cells from the lump for examination. The FHN Women’s Diagnostic Center offers the minimally invasive Mammotome biopsy, which is an outpatient procedure that requires local anesthetic, a single incision and no stitches.
Nurse navigator
The technology of the Women’s Diagnostic Center is exciting, but we’re just as excited to have a nurse navigator on staff. Our nurse navigator serves as a patient advocate and educator, and she will work to coordinate further testing or treatments with you, your provider and any specialists on your team.
Not for ladies only
While women are at the highest risk for developing osteoporosis and breast cancer, both diseases can strike men as well. The technology in the Women’s Diagnostic Center is available to our male patients, as well.
Privacy and comfort
We’ve taken care to locate the Women’s Diagnostic Center in a part of the hospital that isn’t accessible to foot traffic. The general public doesn’t have access to our hallways, so you can feel comfortable as you make your way to the testing rooms.
In most cases, you will change out of your street clothes in the room where your test will be done. If you need to move to another room for additional testing, it’s a very short walk away – right next door in our secluded, private suite.
If you’d like to learn more about the Women’s Diagnostic Center, call 815.599.6313. To schedule an appointment, call 815.599.6860.
