07-03-2025
Women's health care made easy at Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf's new center
GULF COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf Women's Diagnostics Center was constructed with women's privacy and comfort in mind.
Ascension's staff hopes the one-way windows, dressing rooms, and spa-like ambiance will encourage women to prioritize their health.
'When you don't have to drive an hour, it's a little easier to get to an appointment or to the doctor. And I would really encourage people, we are seeing cancer in younger and younger ages. And so that screening, that annual screening, is really important,' Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf Administrator Kelly Beach said.
The facility stands out for a number of reasons.
'We have been at work towards a diagnostic women's center at Sacred Heart Gulf, Port St Joe, for about three and a half years, fundraising. And the beautiful gift of the women's center is that it's 100% community funded. And we're the only Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Florida that is community funded for its Women's center,' Beach said.
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Of the 69 donors that made the center possible, Beach says four made major contributions.
'We felt that this deserved the biggest donation that the Murphy Family Foundation has ever done. And we're really proud to see today come to fruition. Women don't have to go as far all the way to Panama City,' Murphy Family Foundation founder Brendan Murphy said.
'Women put their their testing and their care on the backburner for the rest of the family. And I'm sure there are lots and lots of people who didn't have their mammogram every year because it was just too far to go. So this is a big deal in this little town,' added Cindy Murphy.
The Murphy's say the standard of care they've personally received at the hospital made it a quick decision to help expand its outreach.
The mammogram room isn't the only space to receive a major upgrade.
The ultrasound room was previously a quarter of the size. Now, there is a lot more space to perform vital services, like general imaging for women and breast biopsies.
'So procedures are done in a team approach like these two fine young ladies we have here, Rebecca and Meghan, they're part of it. They're part of the team that when you come in through the door, we work together on making sure that you're comfortable, that we can do our procedure safely, and we can do it accurately. It's always the right patient, the right procedure, and done at the right time. And having more room, having more facilities, upgrading computer equipment and upgrading machines allows us to accomplish all of that in a safe and effective manner,' Chief Medical Officer & Radiologist Dr. Kunal Jani said.
The overall funds raised for the Women's Center came in at around $500,000.
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