HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital plans Girls Night Out to promote women’s health

HIGHLAND — HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital – Highland is planning its fifth annual Girls Night Out event from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 26, in the Ungacta Conference Center at the hospital.

This year’s free event once again focuses on women’s health and will feature health education, activities and refreshments.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet with physicians and nurses to have questions answered. Fun activities such as complimentary mini massage therapy sessions will also be available. Refreshments will be provided by Michael’s Restaurant and all attendees will receive a free gift. Participants will also have the opportunity to win gift baskets. Influenza vaccines will be offered for $27 as well.

A limited number of mammography appointments will be available during the event for those who call in advance to schedule. Dr. P. Shawn Shekar, a board-certified interventional radiologist and member of the St. Joseph’s Hospital medical staff, will be providing patients with immediate results from their mammograms.

In order to continue to detect breast cancer at the earliest possible stage in patients, St. Joseph’s Hospital invested over $350,000 to expand mammography services with advanced 3D mammography. The advanced mammogram equipment was installed in January 2016 and began service in early March of that year.

Those attending the Girls Night Out event can make an appointment for their regular mammography screening by calling (618) 651-2790. Those who have mammography screenings during the event – as well as during the entire month of October – will receive a special gift from St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Medical Imaging Department.

Tours of the Basler Family Women & Children’s Center at St. Joseph’s Hospital will also be available.

The Girls Night Out event is sponsored in part by the HSHS St. Joseph’s Foundation Silver PrimeHealth sponsors: Highland Machine, Oberbeck Grain Co., and The Korte Company. Attendees are invited to visit the St. Joseph’s Hospital Auxiliary Gift Shop to shop and receive a free gift.

More information on women’s health services and the St. Joseph’s Hospital Medical Imaging Department can be obtained by visiting www.stjosephshighland.org or by calling (618) 651-2790.

HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital is part of the Southern Illinois Division of Hospital Sisters Health System, which also includes HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Belleville, HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham, HSHS St. Joseph’s Hospital in Breese and HSHS Holy Family Hospital in Greenville.