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Health Care Coalition Hosts First-Ever Community Wellness Day for Women in Chester, Pa.

July 15, 2008
Chester, PA
– Chester area residents recently attended the city’s first-ever Community Wellness Day for Women, where participants received a wide variety of health tips, including those related to breast and cervical cancer prevention and early detection. The event, which was held at the Community Hospital of Chester, was co-sponsored by Keystone Mercy Health Plan, the Chester City Commission of Health, American Cancer Society, Keystone-Crozer Health System and ChesPenn Health Center.

In addition to health screenings and workshops, participants heard first-hand testimonials on the importance of preventive measures and early detection from many high-profile members of the Chester community, such as Mayor Wendell N. Butler, Jr., Dr. Melanie Ragin, commissioner of health, City of Chester, and Rev. Joel B. McGee, president, Ministerial Fellowship of Chester & Vicinity. Theresa McGrath, regional director, American Cancer Society, also spoke at the event.

According to the American Cancer Society’s information on the importance of early detection, breast cancer, when detected at its localized stage by mammogram screenings and other exams, produces a five-year survival rate of 98 percent. Conversely, the five-year survival rate for patients with cancer that has gone undetected until the metastasized stage (the spreading of cancer to other areas of the body) drastically plummets to 27 percent.

“As a grandson, son, nephew, brother, husband and father, I cannot express how important it is to me for the women in my life to get regular check-ups, and mammogram screenings,” said Victor Negron, director of marketing, Keystone Mercy Health Plan. “One of our goals here at Keystone Mercy is to build and strengthen the communities we serve through health education. Events, like this one today, go along with our vision for a healthier Chester, a healthier Philadelphia and a healthier Southeastern Pennsylvania.”

The collaborative event also included experts on women’s health, such as Theresa McGrath, regional director, Cancer Control, American Cancer Society; Kelly Bradford, community cancer control specialist, American Cancer Society; Connie Sumner, registered nurse, outreach coordinator Fox Chase Cancer Center and Mike Barnard, community health educator, ChesPenn Health Center. Each was available before and after the formal presentations to respond to direct questions from the women attending.  

About Keystone Mercy Health Plan

Keystone Mercy Health Plan, a health care ministry of the Sisters of Mercy in affiliation with Keystone First, Inc., is the largest Medical Assistance managed care organization in Pennsylvania, serving more than 300,000 Medical Assistance recipients.  Keystone Mercy's mission is to help people get care, stay well, and build healthy communities, with a special concern for the poor and disadvantaged.  For more information about Keystone Mercy Health Plan, please visit www.keystonemercy.com.
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