Karen Landoni & Julie Power

Today’s #MondayMotivation inspires us to act empathetically towards others who are going through a difficult time.

Karen Landoni and Julie Power are Mammography Technologists at Guelph General Hospital and both agree that a little empathy goes a long way to ease the worries of the patients they help.

“A woman coming for a breast exam is the most anxious of any patient coming to the Hospital” said Karen.

By asking questions, listening, and inviting questions, Karen and Julie are able to build a strong rapport with their patients.

They also take time to let patients know what they can expect at each step along the way which helps put patients at ease.

And now that Guelph General Hospital offers a weekly Breast Assessment Clinic every Wednesday, the time a woman has to spend waiting to find out whether or not she has breast cancer is reduced to days.

In a single day, a woman can arrive to the Hospital, have a mammogram, an ultrasound and if necessary, even receive an ultrasound- or stereotactic-guided biopsy that same day. The Breast Assessment Clinic sees 20 to 25 patients each Wednesday and about 25% of them go on to have a biopsy.

The clinic was made possible through the donor-funded purchase of three new ultrasound machines that arrived late last spring.

Karen and Julie both agree that interacting with their patients is the best part of their job.

“Even though they might be afraid when they first arrive to us, it’s nice to see them feel a bit better by the time they leave” added Julie.

The month of October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. At GGH, it is about more than just raising awareness of breast cancer, it’s about taking action to provide the highest quality patient care possible to woman who require this important breast screening service at our Hospital.

Guelph General Hospital also encourages women to participate in the Ontario Breast Screening Program as soon as they are eligible and make mammograms part of their routine medical care. Women can book a screening examination at GGH without a doctor’s referral. Please contact our scheduling office for more information at 519 837-6440 x6413.