Moon Township, PA, (April 18, 2012) – Heritage Valley Health System has been awarded a $50,781 grant from the Pittsburgh Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure to expand mammography services to women in Allegheny and Beaver counties. The funding will support Heritage Valley’s All About Breast Care (AABC) program whose goal is to increase breast health and screening mammography knowledge as well as screening mammography compliance for health disparate populations within the Heritage Valley service area.  The grant will be split between the Heritage Valley Beaver Foundation and the Heritage Valley Sewickley Foundation.

“Screening mammography is an important step in identifying breast cancer in its earliest stages, when it’s most treatable,” said Dr. Daniel Brooks, vice president, community health services at Heritage Valley. “The generous support we are receiving from Komen Pittsburgh helps ensure that this important service is available to all women – regardless of their financial situation.”

The National Cancer Institute recommends women 40 years and older have a mammogram every year. Screening mammograms are done for women who have no symptoms of breast cancer. Heritage Valley developed the AABC program in order to educate women about the importance of mammography screening as well as provide mammography screening at each of its seven community locations.

The AABC program provides education to groups or health fairs regarding the importance of mammography screening. Presentations, delivered by nurse practitioners and nurses, can be tailored to each group’s need. The program – education and mammography services – are open to all women, ages 40 to 69, regardless of whether or not they have health insurance.

 “All Heritage Valley locations offer state-of-the-art digital mammography services provided by expert radiologic technologists,” said Beverly Feragotti, director of Heritage Valley’s Women’s Health Center in Center Township. “The screens are read by radiologists, ensuring that each woman’s yearly mammography screen is of the highest caliber.”

Through the AABC program, Heritage Valley is providing screening mammography for women at its seven established locations in Beaver, Center Township, Chippewa, East Liverpool, Ellwood City, Moon Township and Sewickley. Women who schedule their mammogram within the AABC program will receive a free gift when they arrive at their appointment and will be enrolled in a monthly drawing for a $100 Giant Eagle gift card.

For more information about the Heritage Valley AABC program call 724-773-6831 or go to www.heritagevalley.org/AABC. To schedule an education session, please call 1-866-328-8389.