Center for Women's Health, Shawnee Mission Medical Center

Organization's Mission Statement: The Center for Women's Health is dedicated to the belief that women should take active responsibility for their health. With that in mind, The Center for Women's Health was developed to provide the vital information and resources necessary for women to make informed health care decisions. The Center for Women's Health at Shawnee Mission Medical Center is an education and resource center established in the spring of 1991 for the advancement of health and wellness of women throughout the community. The center is dedicated to promoting healthy generations of women by offering:

1. Diagnostic services for illness prevention including:

• Mammography
• Bone density evaluations
• Sonography
• Pelvic health assessments for incontinence and/or pelvic pain management
• Cardiac risk assessments/Lipid profiles
• Depression screenings, anxiety screenings, eating disorders screening

2. Educational Opportunities

• Library, health newsletters/pamphlets/brochures
• Audio and videocassettes
• Consultation with resource nurse/health care provider
• Regular classes addressing a variety of health topics

3. Support Groups and Self-Help Groups

• Bereavement for newly grieving adults
• Breast Cancer Survivors
• Eating Disorders
• Lymphedema Management
• Resolve Through Sharing: Perinatal Bereavement
• Widowhood Support

4. Annual Community Events

• Good Health for Women featuring Dr. Nancy Snyderman
• The Women's Training Team & Avon Running: Kansas City
• Breast Cancer Awareness Month Activities: October
• Speaking of Women's Health
• Osteoporosis Month Activities: May

5. Community Involvement

• Professional Organizations
  • Section on Women's Health: American Physical Therapy Association
  • National Association for Women's Health
  • AWHONN
• Central Exchange
• Universities/community colleges, local school districts
• Metropolitan Organization to Combat Sexual Abuse & Safehome
• Libraries, bookstores
• Women's Groups: churches, civic organizations, hospital groups, health fairs, rural outreach The goal for the Center for Women's Health is to empower women with the knowledge they need to be active participants in their care and to enhance their ability to work with their physicians. In addition to providing the services listed, we offer physicians and their patients information on how to link with specialized women's services throughout the system, staffed by experts in women's health.