Bank of America supports heart health in Bridgeport

Community health navigator Janet Gomes screens women at Bridgeport Hospital’s Wisewoman heart-health program for uninsured patients. The screening took place in the program’s state-of-the-art mobile mammography van at the Church of the Blessed Sacrament in Bridgeport. Courtesy Bridgeport Hospital.

Some women are unaware that heart disease is the leading cause of death in women in the United States. A renewed grant of $25,000 from Bank of America will continue to support the Norma Pfriem Breast Center at Bridgeport Hospital’s Wisewoman Cardiac Health Screening Program for uninsured women in that community, where women face a variety of barriers to health care.   

“Language is a formidable barrier to care,” said Donna Twist, Ph.D., executive director of the Norma Pfriem Breast Center, which like Bridgeport Hospital is part of Yale New Haven Health. “Our bilingual educators and navigators are a bridge to our patients. Women feel comfortable talking about their health in their own language. We’re grateful to Bank of America for helping us increase health-care access to high-risk women.”

The breast center educates women scheduled for breast cancer screening about heart-health risk factors and enrolls them in screening, wellness and lifestyle programs. More than 200 women each year receive heart-health screening through this combined program.  

“Providing Southern Connecticut with health-care resources and access to essential screening and treatment programs, the Norma Pfriem Breast Center is a valued community and longtime Bank of America partner,” said Bill Tommins, president, Bank of America Southern Connecticut. “We look forward to seeing the continued impact of the Wisewomen heart-health screening program and helping drive access to health care for women in high-risk communities.”    

Participants receive a baseline biometric screening and are offered three health coaching sessions with a bilingual, Spanish-speaking community health navigator. Coaching focuses on lifestyle changes to diet and exercise that can help women with their heart-health goals. Patients who are interested and motivated can then enroll in free wellness and lifestyle programs, such as nutrition counseling, gym membership, blood pressure monitoring, medication management, behavioral health counseling and others, all paid for by the program. The community health navigator checks in with clients regularly to answer questions and verify their participation. 

“Our screening programs are a great resource for the community,” said community health navigator Janet Gomes. “The Wisewoman Cardiac Health Screening Program empowers women with the tools they need to prioritize their heart health. Participants gain invaluable knowledge and support to enhance their well-being and safeguard their cardiovascular health.”

For more, visit bridgeporthospital.org.