You Ought to Know About...Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and UCH Breast Care Center

I’m going to start blogging regularly each month about places in the area that you should know about, but probably don’t.

My manager Trisha and I joked today that we were on a field trip, and given all that we learned from our two informative tours this afternoon, it felt like an eye-opening educational experience!

Did you know that there’s a place in Tampa Bay that serves as a resource center for: suicide prevention, help for rape or sexual abuse victims, family support, a connection for reaching out and supporting the elderly, a program to train and support nurse examiners who work with sexual assault victims, protective travel services, ambulatory transportation and crisis intervention?

Have you heard of the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay? If you’re wondering right now what rock I crawled out from under and already know about it, that’s great. Then tell EVERYONE ELSE you know about it, because I’ve lived in the Bay area 16 years, worked for 9 different companies (I know, I know...yes, 9 – I worked mainly in the IT world, a very “mobile” industry) and during that time I had gotten  married (and divorced) and remarried, and never once in my work or friend circles, did I hear about this incredible place.

If you too were living in the Dark Age along with me, my manager and a few other people I chatted with today unfamiliar with it, then you MUST learn more, if only to know what resources might be helpful to you, a family member, a good friend or co-worker who could use their help. This place is far too important to NOT know about

I had seen the building tucked away behind the lush trees out front on Bearss before, but never had any idea what happened there. Here is the link... www.crisiscenter.com. Check it out! Yes, they really do provide all of those services and more. It’s a lifeline connection for people needing guidance or a friendly and nonjudgmental ear. I had no idea such a life-saving and supportive organization even existed in the Tampa area.

Did you know that simply dialing the phone number 2-1-1 could save somebody’s life, particularly if you or someone you know is really up against the wall, contemplating suicide or dealing with circumstances that simply feel out of control? 2-1-1 links back directly to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay.

As a woman, you owe it to yourself to read up about the Crisis Center online. And if you’re a business owner, you’ll want to inquire about the center’s monthly Lunch and Learn tours of the facility and see it for yourself, and maybe even see if there are ways your company or organization can help pitch in to gather needed Wish List resources or raise funds. There also are available speakers who can come to your business or community event and provide informative presentations on life topics such as  stress management.

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The other place we got the opportunity to see for ourselves earlier today was the new Breast Care Center at University Community Hospital. From the moment we walked through the door, we felt at ease with the natural decor and soothing color scheme. There was nothing scary or intimidating in the place. This new facility provides women a place they can go and have a helpful contact take them through the entire breast care process and  deliver results quickly without the stress of worrying about what might (or might not) be. Patients can know that when they have a diagnostic mammogram done, they will receive results whle they are there. Someone needing to get a biopsy done can simply move over to a different room in the center and have that done same-day without having to return another day and worry about it until that next appointment.

We had a chance to see each room as we were walked step-by-step throughout the breast care process, and it’s amazing. Everything’s laid out so thoughtfully, with the patient and patient’s family in mind the whole way. Equipment is state-of-the-art and the process, fairly simple once that first appointment is made.

I’ll be honest. I’ve never had a mammogram done before. I just turned 38 and breast cancer (knock on this cubicle surface) doesn’t seem to run in my family. And I’m not exactly looking forward to the process. I’ve heard pancake flattening. I’ve heard boob squeezing. I’ve heard plenty of other strange references that haven’t endeared me to the procedure, but I know that barring anything found before then in my own shower, soon these tests will be the norm for me, too.So it’s always good to know all of the options that are available.

The new Breast Care Center has been open to the public for two weeks now, and will be celebrating its official “grand opening” later this month. To find out more about it, contact Theresa Winsey, Breast Care Clinical Navigator, at 813.615.7120.