Mason Health expands access to care – new cancer screening tools and specialty care providers and ribbon cutting for Eye Care
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Mason Health Foundation announces Enchanted Evening Dinner Auction
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Mason Health earns prestigious Practice Greenhealth Emerald Award Special Insert
Mason Health amplía el acceso a la atención médica: herramientas de detección del cáncer y nuevos proveedores de atención especializada Página 10
M
ason Health is taking steps to make cancer prevention more accessible, convenient, and patient-centered for the Mason County community.
With the launch of several new cancer screening initiatives at Mason Clinic–Primary Care, the District is removing barriers that often prevent patients from getting the care they need because of time, distance, discomfort, or fear.
From self-swab cervical cancer tests to expanded lung and colorectal screening options, these initiatives reflect Mason Health’s commitment to early detection and proactive care.
“I am so pleased to be a part of Mason Health’s commitment to early cancer detection, ensuring that our community has access to life-saving screenings,” said Lori Brady, Board of Hospital Commissioner.
“By expanding preventive care, we are enabling patients to use the resources they need to take charge of their health and well-being,” Brady said.
Pamela Kim, 57, had been putting off her cervical cancer screening for a couple of years. Like many women, she had every intention of getting it done — but life, distance, and discomfort got in the way.
“I used to live in Seattle, and my gynecologist is still there,” Kim explained. “I had an appointment a couple of years ago but canceled it. It was always on my mind, but I just didn’t get around to it.”
That changed during a recent visit to Mason Clinic–Primary Care, where Kim works. Kim learned about a new option: the BD OnClarity HPV test, a self-swab cervical cancer screening that’s just as accurate as a traditional pelvic exam for patients without symptoms or a history of abnormal PAP smears.
Kim’s Primary Care provider Jennifer Kummerfeldt, ARNP and Manager of Integrated Care, walked Kim through the process.
“Jenn Kummerfeldt handed me the kit, gave me a pamphlet and walked me through what to do. I went to the bathroom, did the swab myself and sealed it in the container. It was simple.”
Kim received her results about a week later — everything was normal.
Because of her age and risk level, she won’t need another screening for five years.
“For people who don’t want to deal with the discomfort or don’t have the time, it’s so convenient,” Kim said.
“I have recommended it to all of my friends who are low-risk. Pap smears are just not a fun thing to go through, but this made it easy.”
Mason Health is also now bolstering its lung cancer screening program with the addition of a new dedicated patient navigator, Elyse Dumont, RN — an experienced registered nurse who will devote four hours each week to guiding patients through the process.
Dumont has been instrumental at developing the lung navigation program
The program targets individuals aged 50 to 80 who currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years and have a smoking history equivalent to one pack a day for 20 years or more.
For Barbara Bruce of Rainier, Washington, a routine lung cancer screening turned out to be lifesaving.
Bruce, who has smoked since she was 11 years old, had been putting off her lung cancer screening for months, despite gentle reminders from her longtime provider, Kummerfeldt.
“Every couple of years, when I’m due for my lung cancer screening, Jennifer would remind me,” Bruce said. “Six months in a row she told me, ‘OK, it’s time.’ Finally, I said, ‘OK, I’ll go.’”
When she finally went in for a low-dose CT scan last fall, doctors found a nodule in her lungs. Within a month, she had a PET scan that confirmed the likelihood of cancer. Less than three months later, she had undergone surgery to remove the tumor.
“It all happened really fast,” Bruce said. “It terrified me. On TV, they only show the extreme cases. They don’t show what happens if you catch it early. That’s what scared me into not wanting to know.”
Bruce’s cancer was caught early at just 9 millimeters in size, and although it was an aggressive form of lung cancer, it hadn’t yet spread beyond her lungs.
“If I had waited six more months, it would have spread to my brain,” she said. “Both of my sisters died from cancer. I’m so glad Jennifer was persistent.”
Bruce’s experience underscores the importance of regular screenings, especially for those at higher risk.
“It makes me feel bad for all the times I said, ‘OK, Jennifer,’ and didn’t go,” she said. “Now that I look back, I did have symptoms. My fingernails were growing in weird shapes—I thought it was a fungus. Turns out, that’s a symptom of lung cancer. They’re growing normally now.”
Recognizing that one size doesn’t fit all, Mason Health is also expanding its colorectal cancer screening options. While colonoscopy remains the gold standard, patients now have access to two additional, less invasive choices:
• Cologuard: A prescription at-home stool DNA test that’s highly effective at detecting colorectal cancer, though less sensitive for polyps.
• Shield Blood Test: A newly FDA-approved blood test that can be done during a doctor’s visit. While not as accurate as a colonoscopy or Cologuard, it’s a valuable option for those who prefer to avoid those methods and is especially effective at detecting later-stage cancers.
Results from the Shield test are typically available within one to two weeks. A positive result from either test requires a follow-up colonoscopy. These options give patients more control over their health and make it easier to stay on top of preventive care.
“It feels good to close care gaps and know we are helping the community members that can utilize these services,” said Carolyn McCain, Chief Human Resources Officer. “The big winners are our community members.”
Mason Health’s new screening initiatives are more than just medical upgrades—they’re a reflection of the organization’s deep commitment to the health and well-being of Mason County residents.
“At Mason Health, we are prioritizing the fight against cancer by empowering our community with accessible and effective screening
Talk to your Primary Care provider about new screening tools for colorectal and cervical cancers!
If you are not at high-risk for colorectal or cervical cancer, talk to your primary care provider about new FDA-approved clinical screening tools that do not require colonoscopy or pelvic exam. These screening tools are not diagnostic and should only be utilized for patients who do not have current concerns for or symptoms of cancer.
Learn more by scanning this QR code or schedule an appointment at Mason Clinic-Primary Care at 360-426-2653 today!
W hen you need quality health care for yourself or a family member or loved one, driving to a location outside of your community can be inconvenient and challenging. Mason Health is welcoming five new providers to Mason Clinic this summer in specialty services, including Cardiology, Eye Care and Pediatrics, increasing access to specialty health care in the District.
Join us in welcoming these new providers to our community! To make an appointment with any of these providers, please call Mason Clinic at 360-426-2653.
Growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, Dr. Badger did not think he would one day become a doctor, yet he considered a career in hospital administration while pursuing an undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University in Utah.
As a young adult, he enjoyed working as a ski patrolman in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, performing first aid and emergency medicine as needed. However, it was a two-year missionary trip to Brazil that changed his life and pushed him definitively toward health care.
“Going to Brazil was my first experience providing help to sick and afflicted people,” he said. “It’s a great thing for any young person to take a step out of their life and do something for others.”
Dr. Badger resumed his undergraduate degree, transferring to and graduating from Stanford University, where he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in Latin American Studies.
During his time at Stanford, he won a fellowship from the Ford Foundation, which he used to return to Brazil to investigate the cause of a high percentage of child births being done via Cesarean Section.
Dr. Badger graduated from the University of California San Diego School of Medicine in 1980, then completed an internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship from the University of Washington in the mid-1980s. “Cardiology became interesting to me, though I felt remorse at leaving behind my interest in healthcare in developing countries,” he reflected. “However, it all came back full circle. Heart disease has become the No. 1 cause of death in developing countries.”
Dr. Badger dedicated much of the next three decades to volunteering with organizations focused on developing countries and serving as a cardiologist at the University of Utah and the University of California, Davis. During this time, he also traveled extensively, teaching and sharing his expertise around the world.
He has trained physicians, developed cardiology programs and brought medical supplies to countries including Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Zimbabwe, Angola and Mozambique. He is fluent in Portuguese. Last winter, he took a sabbatical from medicine and worked as a ski
patrolman at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah. As a ski patrolman, he performed first aid in adverse conditions, rescued skiers from high altitudes and angles and deployed explosives to prevent avalanches.
“Being a ski patrolman is a job that requires multiple skill sets,” he said. “I call it combat skiing.”
Dr. Badger was looking for an opportunity to practice medicine, when his former coworker Fahad Younas, MD, told him about Mason Health. Dr. Badger was attracted to the fact that Mason Health is a public hospital district.
“I retired from full-time work 10 years ago, but I love working,” he said. “Younas told me about this unique opportunity. It’s rare for a cardiologist to work in a private practice setting. Most of health care is very corporate these days, whether run by a for-profit or a nonprofit. Mason Health is different – it is a publicly-owned hospital district, run by publicly elected officials.”
In his free time, Dr. Badger still enjoys skiing, as well as golfing and riding motorcycles. He has six grown children, and 14 grandchildren.
“Life is short, and as a cardiologist, I see that all the time,” he said. “It has never left me that I could be gone tomorrow. So, I take the opportunity to do what I can and what I love today.”
Aditya Mehta, MD, Eye Care:
Dr. Mehta’s fascination with healthcare began when he broke his shoulder during military training at the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York. Watching how physicians could heal a broken bone catapulted him into his future career.
“I was amazed at the fact that they could take a broken bone and put it back together,” he reflected. “I knew I wanted to be a part of something that could help people in that way.”
Dr. Mehta grew up in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with parents who always inspired him to work hard and be disciplined toward his goals.
After two years at the U.S. Military Academy in 2010, he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at the University of New Mexico, and then went straight into medical school to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, sponsored by the U.S. Army.
Dr. Mehta continued to serve in the U.S. Army until 2023, providing ophthalmology care as a resident at the San Antonio Military Medical Center in Texas, and later at various hospitals in El Paso, Texas, in the clinic setting in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and in private practice at the Kentucky Eye Institute in Lexington, Kentucky.
During this time, he has specialized in cataract surgery, serving in high-volume clinics, at times performing up to 20 cataract cases per week. As the Chief of Clinic at the William Beaumont Army Medical Center Warfighter Refractive Eye Surgery Program in Fort Bliss, Texas, he performed more than 1,000 refractive eye surgeries.
While in the military, Dr. Mehta has also deployed oversees, functioning as the sole military ophthalmologist for all US and NATO forces in Iraq.
Dr. Mehta did not always know he wanted to pursue eye care — initially, he was drawn to orthopedics because of his experience with the broken shoulder.
“I thought I would do orthopedics, then I really liked the cardiac physicians that I worked with and for a long time, I thought maybe I
would do cardiology,” he said. “Ultimately, I loved the surgeries in eye care. It felt like instant gratification, to have a patient who one day is blind and the next day can see. Eyesight is the most cherished sense that we have.”
While Dr. Mehta misses the food in New Mexico, he was drawn to Mason Health because the population here is similar to the older, veteran population he is so used to working with.
“This is a patient-focused hospital with a very similar type of patient,” he said. “I like the rural nature of the practice and filling an unmet need. Helping people enjoy their life to the fullest and giving them quality health care is gratifying.”
Dr. Mehta values charitable work and has volunteered on medical missions in South and Central America, performing cataract and pterygium surgeries.
When he is not at work, his hobbies include bike riding, rock climbing and spending time with his wife and young daughter.
Jewel Park, MD, Pediatrics:
Dr. Park’s journey into medicine was not exactly straightforward.
Dr. Park spent his formative middle school and high school years in Sri Lanka, where his parents worked for a non-governmental organization. This experience sparked a lifelong interest in global health and equity.
“Living in Sri Lanka opened my eyes to how health is distributed so unequally across the globe,” he said. “It made me think about what I wanted to do to make an impact for the better.”
Dr. Park completed his undergraduate degree in Life Sciences and Biotechnology at Yonsei University Underwood International College in South Korea in 2017, and then completed medical school at the Korea University College of Medicine in 2021.
“I didn’t think I would go into medicine because I didn’t like blood,” he admitted. “But during my senior year of undergrad, I did some soulsearching and asked myself what the best way would be to help people. I really enjoyed biology and thought that knowledge could be used to help people.”
After completing his medical degree, Dr. Park spent more than a year undertaking a Master’s in Public Health degree from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, where he was awarded a merit scholarship for his academic excellence.
He then continued living in the United States to finish his pediatric residency program, first at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and then at Los Angeles General Medical Center.
Watching physicians interact with young patients during an observership at the Mayo Clinic is what prompted Dr. Park to pursue Pediatrics.
“One physician I saw, he knew that his patient loved dinosaurs, so he came into the room one day wearing a dinosaur hat,” Dr. Park recalled.
“Another time, I remember everyone coming together to pop party crackers for a child’s birthday. I saw those doctors enjoying themselves and I saw how those little acts were meaningful. They were having fun making kids feel better.”
In addition to his clinical work, Dr. Park is an accomplished researcher. His publications span topics from pediatric atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis to global health disparities and artificial intelligence in cancer diagnostics.
His work has appeared in respected journals such as The Lancet Psychiatry, JAMA Pediatrics, and American Journal of Pathology.
Now living in Olympia with his wife, Eunji Lim, a former teacher in Korea, Dr. Park is excited to raise his family in the Pacific Northwest.
“I was looking for a place with trees, not concrete,” he said. “Mason Health felt like a place that truly cares for its people. Many people I met had been here for years — it spoke volumes.”
Outside of work, Dr. Park enjoys reading, hiking, and has recently developed a love for baseball.
He looks forward to continuing his research and contributing to preventive care initiatives at Mason Health.
This summer and fall, Mason Health also welcomed two new Women’s Health providers — Nikki Ann Medina, DO, and Meghan Olson, MD. Dr. Medina completed a four-year OB-GYN residency program at Trinity Health Oakland in Michigan, while Dr. Olson recently completed her OB-GYN residency at East Tennessee State University.
A new Licensed Mental Health Counselor, Melanie Meaker, also began seeing patients in Behavioral Health in August, and this month, Brianna Gutierrez, PA-C, joined the Mason Clinic-Walk-In, while Jennifer Robinson, MD, joined Mason Clinic-Pediatrics. Stay tuned for more in-depth profiles in future issues of SCOPE magazine!
Invest in today, because tomorrow will be here before you know it.
by Jennifer Capps, Chief Development and Communication O cer
One of the easiest ways to provide an enduring gift of support to Mason Health Foundation is through your will. By including the Foundation and the Forever Fund in your estate plans, you can designate some of your assets to the Foundation after your lifetime. At that time, the asset(s) you specify can be allocated to us, and your estate may be able to take a charitable deduction for the amount of your bequest, possibly reducing income and estate taxes payable.
If you choose to include Mason Health Foundation in your will or other estate plan, we should be named as: Mason Health Foundation
Post O ce Box 1668, Shelton, WA 98584 Our tax identi cation number is 91-1529293
Mason Health Foundation would be pleased to work with you and/or your nancial or tax advisor to establish the planned gift(s) most appropriate for you to achieve your nancial planning goals.
Mason Health Foundation furthers the mission of Public Hospital District No. 1 of Mason County by providing nancial support to Mason Health.
Mason Health Foundation would like to acknowledge past contributors now deceased. Listed below are supporters the Foundation would like to recognize for their past support of our mission and work in the community. Please join us in acknowledging their support of the Foundation during their lifetimes. This report re ects individuals who have deceased between May 8 to July 23, 2025.
Mary Aaron
Tony V. Bisser
Percella Fuller
Carol J. Hunter
Allen Richter
Allen Richter
Tarcile A. Ross
Tarcile A. Ross
Jim Smith
Jim Smith
Joe L. Snyder
Joe L. Snyder
Twilla Sobotka
Carol Zech
Please be advised that every e ort has been made to ensure the integrity of this listing. If we have inadvertently omitted any names, please accept our apologies and most sincere thanks for your generosity and continued support of Mason Health Foundation.
Mason Health Foundation generously receives donations in honor and/or memory of the individuals. If you would like to make a memorial donation, please use the remittance envelope included in SCOPE and mark Memorial Giving. You may also call the Foundation o ce at 360-427-3623 for assistance. Donors and memorialized individuals listed in this report re ect contributions made to the Foundation beginning May 8 to July 23, 2025.
Our Community Credit Union In Memory of Joe Snyder
Mason Health Foundation enjoyed a beautiful Bikers for Babies fundraiser hosted by the Warrior Angel Riders, on Saturday, Aug. 9. The event concluded at The River’s Edge in Tumwater. Event fundraising updates forthcoming!
Mason Health Foundation had an amazing time at the Quality Care Open Golf Tournament in July. Thank you once again to all the sponsors, gift-in-kind donors for prizes, players and community members who
The Foundation received more than $55,000 n sponsorships and donations! Thank you once again to CDW Corporation for sponsoring the
Mason Health proudly announces that Chief Operating Officer Winfried Danke, M.Sc., Dipl. Pol., has officially earned the distinction of Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE) — a mark of excellence in healthcare leadership held by fewer than 10,000 professionals nationwide. Danke received confirmation of his fellowship in May, following a rigorous, multi-year process that reflects his commitment to professional development, civic engagement and healthcare excellence. He will be formally recognized at the ACHE Convocation Ceremony during the 2026 Congress on Healthcare Leadership.
“This was a long time coming,” Danke said. “It’s a multi-year undertaking that requires sustained effort and a broad understanding of healthcare leadership. I’m honored to join the ranks of ACHE Fellows.”
To earn the FACHE credential, candidates must meet stringent requirements, including a minimum of five years in executive healthcare management, completion of 36 hours of continuing education, volunteer activities and more.
Learn more at https://www.ache.org/fache.
Mason Health, in partnership with Harmony Retreats, as part of Cancer Lifeline, and with the financial support of the Karen Hilburn Cancer Fund, is hosting virtual cancer support groups. For more information, call 360-4327706 or email patientnavigator@masongeneral.com.
Time: 4 to 6:30 p.m., second Wed. of the month
Location: ZOOM or conference call
Cost: Free
Who will make medical decisions for you when you no longer can? Make sure your health care choices are known.
Mason Health is hosting a series of advance directive workshops. At each workshop, we will discuss the importance and benefits of completing advance directives. The workshop and all forms are provided free. Bring your questions! Our presenter is knowledgeable and can direct you to more resources.
Visit www.masonhealth.com for a schedule of classes, starting in February, at Mason General Hospital.
For more information and to register, email Mason Health Volunteer Karen Wiley, BSN, at kwiley@masongeneral.com.
Time: 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 14
Location: Washington Room - Mason General Hospital
Cost: Free
Check out www.masonhealth.com for more classes and workshops, including Cancer Wellness, Traumatic Brain Injury Support Group and First Aid/CPR classes!
H
ave you ever thought about giving back to your community, particularly to people during their most vulnerable times?
Mason Health’s Volunteer Services Department is seeking volunteers to fill the existing chaplain program, as well as a new program designed to provide presence and comfort to patients receiving end-of-life care who would otherwise be alone —
No One Dies Alone (NODA).
If you are a member of a religious clergy and are interested in hospital chaplaincy, please reach out to Volunteer Program Specialist Kim Lutey at 360-427-3621. Mason Health chaplains round with patients and nurses, providing comfort during the regular hospital hours and on an as-needed, on-call basis.
For others interested in providing comfort to patients, the nationwide NODA program trains dedicated current volunteers and employees to sit vigil with patients in the Medical-Surgical-Pediatrics (MSP), Emergency Department and Intensive Care Units during their final moments. By offering a calm, compassionate presence, volunteers give patients the comfort of having someone with them if their loved ones are unable to be by their side.
“It is so very reassuring for out-of-town family members to learn that there is a program in place to make sure their loved ones won’t be alone during the end-of-life processes,” said Doug Peterson, a Volunteer Chaplain and Pastor at Faith Lutheran Church, who spearheaded the program with hospital staff. “That peace of mind is invaluable.”
NODA volunteers receive specialized training in active listening, emotional presence and companionship. Trainings for 2025 are complete and will re-open in spring 2026.
If you are interested in learning more about No One Dies Alone, please reach out to Volunteer Program Specialist Kim Lutey at 360-427-3621.
Mason Health Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Tammy Herring, Assistant Vice President and Branch Manager of Umpqua Bank in Shelton, and Jeanna Marquina, Assistant Executive Director at Maple Glen Assisted Living. Both women bring a deep commitment to community service and a personal connection to Mason Health, aligning with the Foundation’s mission to support quality health care in Mason County.
Herring, a longtime banking professional with 37 years of experience, moved to Mason County at age seven and became the branch manager of the Umpqua Bank in Shelton in January 2023. Since then, she has made it a priority to engage with the community, joining the board of United Way of Mason County and switching her health care to Mason Health. Her positive experiences with Mason Health’s Primary Care and Podiatry services, especially under the care of Robert Cavaliere, DPM, inspired her to get more involved. Encouraged by her close friend and current Foundation Board Treasurer Lisa Welander, Herring saw the Foundation as a meaningful way to give back.
Her daughter, Kayleigh Smith, works at Mason Health and is expecting a baby at the Birth Center, further strengthening Herring’s connection to the organization.
“This community is worth getting the best care they can get,” she said. “That’s what the mission is. We can make strides.”
Marquina, originally from Bremerton, has built a career rooted in health care and service. At a young age, she worked for Grocery Outlet, working her way up from bagger to store manager, eventually being offered to open a new grocery store at the age of 24. At that point, she decided to switch gears and earned her medical assistant certification and proceeded to work for more than a decade in family medicine and pediatrics in Kitsap County, at Olympia Family Practice and Kitsap Children’s Clinic.
In 2018, she moved to Shelton and eventually joined Maple Glen Assisted Living, where she quickly rose through the ranks. Her personal experiences with Mason Health — including the birth of her twins at Mason General Hospital — left a lasting impression.
Inspired by her supervisor and Foundation Board President Jaimie Hans, Marquina saw joining the Foundation as an opportunity to make a broader impact.
“I wanted to be part of the community and for people to know who I am,” she said. “I wanted to do something bigger.”
Mason Health amplía el acceso a la atención médica de nuestros pacientes y comunidad — nuevos recursos para detección de cáncer y servicios ampliados
Mason Health está tomando medidas para hacer que la prevención del cáncer sea más accesible, conveniente y centrada en el paciente para la comunidad del condado de Mason.
Con el lanzamiento de varias iniciativas nuevas para detectar el cáncer en Mason Clinic–Atención primaria, el Distrito está eliminando las barreras que a menudo impiden que los pacientes reciban la atención que necesitan debido al tiempo, la distancia, el malestar o el miedo.
Desde exámenes para el cáncer cervical con pruebas tomadas por las personas mismas hasta opciones ampliadas para la detección de cáncer de pulmón y colorrectal, estas iniciativas reflejan el compromiso de Mason Health con la detección precoz y la atención proactiva.
“Estoy muy complacida de ser parte del compromiso de Mason Health para detectar el cáncer de manera precoz, asegurándonos de que nuestra comunidad tenga acceso a exámenes que salvan vidas,” dijo Lori Brady, miembro de la Junta de Comisionados del Hospital.
“Expandiendo la atención preventiva, permitimos que los pacientes usen los recursos que necesitan para tomar el control de su salud y bienestar”, afirmó Brady.
Pamela Kim, 57, había estado posponiendo el examen para detectar cáncer de cuello uterino durante un par de años. Como muchas mujeres, tenía toda la intención de hacerlo, pero la vida, la distancia y el malestar se interpusieron en su camino.
“Solía vivir en Seattle, y mi ginecóloga sigue allí”, explicó Kim. “Tenía una cita hace un par de años, pero la cancelé. Siempre lo tenía en mente, pero nunca me decidí a hacerlo”.
Eso cambió durante una visita reciente a Mason Clinic–Atención primaria, donde trabaja Kim. Kim se enteró de una nueva opción: la prueba BD OnClarity HPV, un examen para detectar cáncer cervical con una muestra que ella misma podía tomarse y que es igual de precisa que un examen pélvico tradicional para pacientes sin síntomas o con historia de pruebas de Papanicolaou anormales.
La proveedora de atención primaria de Kim, Jennifer Kummerfeldt, ARNP y gerente de Atención Integrada, le explicó el proceso a Kim paso a paso.
“Jenn Kummerfeldt me entregó el kit, me dio un folleto y me explicó paso a paso qué hacer. Fui al baño, tomé la muestra yo misma y la sellé en el
recipiente. Fue sencillo.”
Kim recibió sus resultados aproximadamente una semana después — todo estaba normal. Debido a su edad y el nivel de riesgo, no necesitará otro examen hasta dentro de cinco años.
“Para las personas que no quieren pasar por el malestar o no tienen tiempo, es muy conveniente”, dijo Kim.
“Se lo he recomendado a todas mis amigas que son de bajo riesgo. Las pruebas de Papanicolaou simplemente no son algo agradable de hacer, pero esto lo hizo fácil.”
Cáncer de pulmón: encontrado justo a tiempo
Mason Health también está fortaleciendo ahora su programa para detectar cáncer de pulmón con la incorporación de una nueva enfermera orientadora de pacientes dedicada a esto, Elyse Dumont, RN, una enfermera registrada con experiencia que dedicará cuatro horas cada semana a guiar a los pacientes durante el proceso.
Dumont ha sido fundamental en el desarrollo del programa de orientación sobre los pulmones.
El programa se dirige a personas de 50 a 80 años que actualmente fuman o dejaron de fumar en los últimos 15 años y tienen una historia como fumador equivalente a una cajetilla al día durante 20 años o más.
Para Barbara Bruce de Rainier, Washington, un examen de rutina para detectar cáncer de pulmón le salvó la vida.
Bruce, quien ha fumado desde los 11 años, había estado posponiendo su evaluación de cáncer de pulmón durante meses, a pesar de los recordatorios amables de su proveedora de hace mucho tiempo, Kummerfeldt.
“Cada par de años, cuando me tocaba la evaluación de cáncer de pulmón, Jennifer me lo recordaba,” dijo Bruce. “Durante seis meses seguidos me dijo: ‘Es hora de hacerla’. Finalmente le dije, ‘Está bien, iré’.”
Cuando finalmente ella se hizo un estudio de imágenes por CT de baja dosis el otoño pasado, los médicos encontraron un nódulo en sus pulmones. En un mes, se hizo un estudio de imágenes por PET que confirmó la probabilidad de cáncer. Menos de tres meses después, tuvo una operación para extirpar el tumor.
“Todo pasó muy rápido”, dijo Bruce. “Me aterrorizó. En la televisión, solo muestran los casos extremos. No muestran lo que pasa si se detecta precozmente. Eso es lo que me asustó y me hizo no querer saber.”
El cáncer de Bruce se detectó precozmente con solo 9 milímetros de tamaño, y aunque era una forma agresiva de cáncer de pulmón, aún no se había extendido más allá de sus pulmones.
“Si hubiera esperado seis meses más, se habría extendido a mi cerebro”, dijo ella. “Mis dos hermanas murieron de cáncer. Estoy muy agradecida de que Jennifer fuera persistente.”
La experiencia de Bruce subraya la importancia de hacer con regularidad los exámenes, especialmente para aquellos con más riesgo.
“Me hace sentir mal por todas las veces que dije: “Está bien, Jennifer’, y no fui,” dijo ella. “Ahora que miro hacia atrás, sí tenía síntomas. Mis uñas estaban creciendo con formas extrañas—pensé que era un hongo. Resulta que eso es un síntoma del cáncer de pulmón. Ahora están creciendo normalmente.”
Como no existe una sola opción que funcione para todos, Mason Health está ampliando las opciones para hacerse exámenes de detección de cáncer colorrectal. Aunque la colonoscopia sigue siendo el método de referencia, los pacientes ahora tienen acceso a otras dos opciones menos invasivas:
De izquierda a derecha, la directora de Servicios de Laboratorio, Lindsay Roberts; la exdirectora de Innovación y Excelencia Clínica, Michelle Hamilton; la directora de Atención Integrada, Jennifer Kummerfeldt, y Linda Cook, MA-C, posan con el examen de detección de cáncer de cuello uterino BD OnClarity HPV, que lo puede hacer la persona misma (izquierda), y el nuevo análisis de sangre Shield, aprobado por la FDA, que detecta el cáncer colorrectal.
• Cologuard: una prueba de DNA en heces para hacer en casa con receta y que es muy efectiva para detectar cáncer colorrectal, aunque menos sensible para pólipos.
• Análisis de sangre Shield: un análisis de sangre recién aprobado por la FDA que se puede hacer durante una visita al médico. Aunque no es tan precisa como una colonoscopia o Cologuard, es una opción valiosa para los que prefieren evitar esos métodos y es especialmente efectiva para detectar cánceres en etapas más avanzadas.
Los resultados de la prueba Shield generalmente están disponibles en una o dos semanas. Un resultado positivo de cualquiera de las dos pruebas necesita una colonoscopia de seguimiento. Estas opciones les dan a los pacientes más control sobre su salud y facilitan mantenerse al día con la atención preventiva.
“Se siente bien cerrar las brechas en la atención y saber que estamos ayudando a los miembros de la comunidad que pueden usar estos servicios,” dijo Carolyn McCain, directora de Recursos Humanos. “Los grandes ganadores son los miembros de nuestra comunidad.”
Las nuevas iniciativas de evaluación de Mason Health son más que simples mejoras médicas—son un reflejo del profundo compromiso de la organización con la salud y el bienestar de los residentes del
¡HAZ TU CITA HOY!
¡MASON HEALTH OFRECE HERRAMIENTAS DE DETECCIÓN DE CÁNCER NUEVAS Y MÁS CONVENIENTES!
¡Consulte con su médico de cabecera sobre las nuevas herramientas de detección del cáncer colorrectal y de cuello uterino!
¡Obtenga más información escaneando este código QR o programe una cita en la Clínica Mason de Atención Primaria al 360-426-2653 hoy mismo!
901 Mountain View Drive
Shelton, WA 98584
Mission Statement
United Community, Empowered People, Exceptional Health Board of Hospital Commissioners: Don Welander, President; Darrin Moody, Secretary; and Lori Brady, Trustee.
Administration: Eric Moll, CEO
Published by: Mason Health. Editor-in-Chief: Jennifer Capps, Chief Development & Communication Officer. Writing & Editing: Arla Shephard Bull, Marketing Coordinator. Proofreader & Fact Checker: Sherie Ellington and Penny Nielsen. Designed by: BatFish Ink LLC. Printed by: The Shopper Business Office/Patient Accounts: 2505 Olympic Highway North, Suite #450, Shelton, WA 98584. Mon-Fri: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Call 360-427-3601 (or 360-275-8614 from Allyn) or email hospitalbillingquestions@masongeneral.com for questions about your bill. A Spanish translator is available.
Mason Health: Located at: 901 Mountain View Drive, PO Box 1668, Shelton, WA 98584-5001 • 360-426-1611, from Allyn 360-275-8614, Toll free 855-880-3201, TTY/TDD 360-427-9593 • Serving the medical needs of Mason County since 1968 • Accredited by DNV-GL • Free Translation Services Provided/Se habla español • Equal Opportunity Provider • Public Hospital No.1 of Mason County, Washington, d.b.a Mason Health complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex (consistent with the scope of sex discrimination described at 45 CFR § 92.101(a)(2)) or sex, including sex characteristics, including intersex traits; pregnancy or related conditions; sexual orientation; and gender identity. Mason Health does not exclude people or treat them less favorably because of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.
Visiting hours: Every day 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. All visitors should enter through the MGH Main Entrance, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. After hours or Sunday visitors can use the Emergency Department entrance.
Mason Clinic hours: Mon–Fri: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. • Mason Clinic Lab Hours: Mon-Fri: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat: 9 a.m. to noon • Mason Clinic Walk-In hours: Mon-Fri: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sat/Sun: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Please notify Mason Health as soon as you know you will need to change or cancel your appointment, and cancellation must be at least one business day prior to your scheduled appointment. See Mason Health’s No-Show and Cancellation Policy at www.MasonHealth.com and direct any questions you have about it to your Clinic.
1. Online bill pay service
Make an online payment at www.MasonHealth.com. Click on the “Pay Your Bill” link at the top of the web page.
2. Call or visit in person
2505 Olympic Hwy, Suite #450 Shelton, WA 98584 • (360) 427-3601 Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
3. By mail Mason Health Business O ce • POB 94782 • Seattle, WA 98124-7082
