H E A L T H
&
W E L L N E S S
The Healthier Northshore Initiative
Currently, Louisiana ranks 50th in the United States for overall health services. And
it ranks among the lowest in the nation for clinical care, health outcomes and behavioral health. How do we change that? By working together, that’s how.
SMH Regional Cancer Center High-Risk Breast Clinic
Slidell Memorial Hospital Imaging Center and Cancer Center recognized that
The Healthier Northshore initiative is dedicated to bringing people, organizations and resources together to amplify healthier living throughout St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Healthier Northshore is a project of St. Tammany Health System, Ochsner
a percent of the population was at high risk of developing breast cancer without the
Northshore, Slidell Memorial Hospital, Lakeview Regional Medical Center, Our Lady of
support to navigate it.
Angels, Riverside Hospital and a host of human services, government and community
Oncology Nurse Practitioner Jodie Harrison understands what it is to have
organizations from St. Tammany and Washington parishes. Healthier Northshore serves
concerns about personal cancer risk. Her mother was diagnosed at 45. “I know that
as a central site for education, outreach and early detection, connecting people with
feeling of, am I at risk? Having in the back of your mind, am I going to get it as well?”
existing resources for maintaining and improving the health of our population.
The High-Risk Breast Clinic seeks to meet that need. Patients are identified
We tackle issues like…
through a mammogram and Tyrer-Cuzick (TC) score, which looks at personal and family history. Anyone with a score of 20% is considered at higher risk. Knowing
• Mental health
• Early detection and preventative
their TC score can help patients advocate for themselves and seek care.
• Diet and nutrition
• Staying active
• Women’s health
• Nicotine addiction
• Prenatal care
“There is further follow-up for those who don’t have cancer but could be at risk, so we want to keep a closer eye on them,” Harrison explains.
health screenings
“We ask, is there something else we should be doing to protect our breast health? For [the High-Risk Breast Clinic] the biggest thing is early detection,”
With more than 50 partner organizations and individuals on the advisory
Harrison says. “The risk will never completely go away, but we can help reduce
committee, we aim to bring healthcare education to the masses. Together, our partners
it. We can get a baseline [of an individual’s health] and then hopefully catch it
and resources can encourage healthier lifestyles through community events, existing and
earlier and have a better chance of curing it.”
new programs and collaborations.
She recommends regular self-breast exams, 150 minutes of exercise a week, not smoking, and limiting alcohol. Annual mammograms are a must for anyone over 40. “If you have a close relative who has had breast or ovarian cancer it’s
Louisiana doesn’t have to be 50th in the nation for overall health service. The Healthier Northshore initiative is making a difference. For more information, visit our website HealthierNorthshore.health, and like us on Facebook.
important to get an idea of your risk level,” she says. Individuals who feel they could be at risk, can call and make an appointment with the clinic. The team there will be glad to help.
For more information, please call the SMH Oncology Nurse Navigator at (985) 280-6672. 54
Inside Northside
HealthierNorthshore.health
