Southern Ohio Medical Center was recently awarded $36,971 from the Susan G. Komen® Columbus to support patient navigation services through the Hands of Hope program.

These services assist women by educating them about risk and how to access care through their insurance, as well as how to navigate the healthcare system to get screenings.

“The support we receive from Susan G. Komen Columbus has been tremendous for our community,” SOMC’s Breast Health Navigator Kim Richendollar said. “We are honored to be one of just 22 breast health programs to receive funding from Komen Columbus. Without their support, far too many women in our community would find themselves without the care they need.”

“Women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ohio are more likely to die from the disease than almost anywhere else in the United States due to multiple barriers such as access to affordable care and treatment and challenges to navigating the healthcare systems,” said Julie McMahon, director of mission at Komen Columbus. “In the communities we serve, we have identified issues contributing to those problems and focused our support to organizations that bring local solutions to those barriers.”

For more information about SOMC’s Hands of Hope, visit somc.org/cancer.