Bon Secours Health System Awards Good Samaritan Hospital $40,000 in Mission Grant Funds to Benefit Medically Vulnerable Patients

SUFFERN, N.Y. (July 31, 2018) – Good Samaritan Hospital, a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth), has been awarded $40,000 in Mission Grant funds from Bon Secours Health System. The funds will support medically at-risk, low-income patients with limited or no health insurance, in particular, women at high-risk for breast cancer as well as patients with diabetes and congestive heart failure.

Nearly $20,000 was awarded to help initiate the program, Genetic Counseling and Diagnostic Testing: Improving Outcomes for Women At-Risk for Breast Cancer. Good Samaritan Hospital's Center for Breast Health will oversee this program, ensuring that high-risk women who are uninsured/underinsured can receive genetic counseling in addition to follow up screening and diagnostic tests. Family history and other factors can cause women to be at higher risk. Through early detection, there's an increase in access to early breast cancer care, decreasing later-stage diagnosis and mortality.

Good Samaritan Hospital's Population Health Department, which assesses group health outcomes to improve health, received $20,000 in Mission Grant funds. This program will provide glucometers for patients with diabetes and offers tools to help monitor weight gain for patients with congestive heart failure. When self-monitored, both conditions can be better controlled, improving patient health and reducing unnecessary Emergency Department and inpatient care. Healthcare providers will work with patients – and maintain contact – to ensure proper monitoring. Rather than waiting until conditions worsen, people will learn early identification of symptoms and when to call their healthcare provider.

The Mission Fund promotes the Catholic Health Ministry and the mission, values and vision of Bon Secours Health System, headquartered in Maryland. "These programs will help improve health outcomes for people in our region," said Susan Evelyn, RSM, Senior Vice President, Mission at Bon Secours Charity Health System. "We are deeply grateful to Bon Secours Health System for supporting our initiatives."

Good Samaritan Hospital is part of Bon Secours Charity Health System and a member of the Westchester Medical Center Health Network.