American Cancer Society Honors CVMC Reach To Recovery Volunteer Brenda Putnam

Program Helps Women Newly Diagnosed with Breast Cancer

HICKORY, NC – July 22, 2016 – Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) announces today The American Cancer Society has honored CVMC employee Brenda Putnam of Hickory with the Terese Lasser Memorial Award, the highest national award for service in the society’s Reach To Recovery®program. Putnam was selected out of nominees from 8 southeastern states for the award, presented annually to volunteers in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Reach To Recovery Program, which pairs volunteers with breast cancer patients face-to-face or over the phone to provide peer support.

The award honors the memory of Terese Lasser, who started the program in 1952 after her own battle with breast cancer. Like Lasser, Putnam, and all Reach To Recovery volunteers, are breast cancer survivors trained to help breast cancer patients and their families.

“As a Reach To Recovery volunteer, Brenda has coordinated a broad array of activities that impact breast cancer patients in the Catawba Valley,” said Melanie Lutz, CVMC Cancer Program Director. “Her contributions have helped evolve and grow the program with compassionate, quick follow ups with patients referred to her by the Reach To Recovery program. Brenda establishes personal connections with a significant percentage of CVMC’s breast cancer caseload and demonstrates a strong to commitment to embracing the ongoing research and education required to maintain current Reach To Recovery certifications.”

The American Cancer Society adopted Reach To Recovery in 1969 as one of its nationwide support programs. Patients may request a visit at any time during their experience with breast cancer, or a physician may recommend the visit. To learn more about this free program or to volunteer, call 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

ABOUT THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY

The American Cancer Society is a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers saving lives and fighting for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. As the largest voluntary health organization, the Society’s efforts have contributed to a 20 percent decline in cancer death rates in the U.S. since 1991, and a 50 percent drop in smoking rates. Thanks in part to our progress nearly 14 million Americans who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will celebrate more birthdays this year. We’re determined to finish the fight against cancer. We’re finding cures as the nation’s largest private, not-for-profit investor in cancer research, ensuring people facing cancer have the help they need and continuing the fight for access to quality health care, lifesaving screenings, clean air, and more. For more information, to get help, or to join the fight, call us anytime, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.

ABOUT CATAWBA VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

Catawba Valley Medical Center (CVMC) in Hickory, NC, is the region’s largest not-for-profit, public healthcare system serving the community without direct funding from taxes. CVMC provides and promotes physical, mental, emotional and spiritual well-being in addition to serving as a center for health education, wellness, preventive medicine and acute care. CVMC received a fourth consecutive Magnet designation from the American Nurses Credentialing Center in 2014 and is accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Center. WomenCertified® has recognized CVMC with Women’s Choice Awards for America’s Best 100 Hospitals for Patient Experience in 2012, 2013 & 2014; Best Hospital for Patient Experience in Obstetrics in 2013, 2014 & 2015; America’s Best Hospitals in Orthopedics in 2013 & 2014; and America’s Best Hospitals in Cancer Care in 2014. CVMC received the 2013, 2014 & 2016 Premier Inc. QUEST® Award for High-Value Healthcare recognizing its reduction in harm, mortality, readmissions and costs and improvements in metrics for patient experience and evidence-based care. For more information, please visit http://www.catawbavalleymedical.org.

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