A Special Women's Center for the Women of Leeward Oahu

August 2003

Following the tradition of the Kapi'olani Women's Center in Honolulu, Pali Momi has opened the second women's center location offering the same spa-like retreat. Women can temporarily escape the whirlwind of daily duties and attend to their own health in a relaxed, homelike setting.

The Aiea center offers mammograms and breast diagnostics, and DEXA bone-density scans as part of Pali Momi's comprehensive Bone Health program.

The signature rose given to each patient is among the fine touches found at the Women's Center, which could be mistaken for the staff of a five-star hotel. As clinical settings go, this Aiea oasis is about as far as you can get from chilly stainless steel and the odor of rubbing alcohol. Think instead: muted colors and carpeting, bamboo and birds of paradise.

At Pali Momi, soft touches such as a nice robe to change into make your experience pleasant. You can come in and get the testing you need in a place that's made especially for you.

A typical comment from a patient: "It is very beautiful. Several friends and I felt like we were at a spa. The decor was very pleasing and we especially appreciated the privacy catered for women."

The staff at Pali Momi would like to see more women, particularly older women, take advantage of the Center's Bone Health program, which helps women prevent and manage osteoporosis, a serious and debilitating condition.

Pali Momi's exercise physiologist Marcie Nowack, a University of Hawaii volleyball standout in the early 1980s, tailors exercise programs to the needs of women who have or are at risk of developing this debilitating bone disease.

"Some women, as they get older, are afraid of breaking a bone, and they stop doing anything and become sedentary, which is the worst thing they can do," says Nowack. "But once people are tested and find out they have osteoporosis, they are really motivated to do something about it. It's important that they stay active."

Even women who were not athletes can benefit from exercise in their middle years and beyond, she insists. Kapi'olani's Osteo-cize classes help women improve their posture, gait, balance and strength. Reducing back pain is a major focus.

"Women come in and say, 'Tell me what I can do.' I tell them they can increase their muscle strength. As women get older, they lose their strength and coordination and balance and they start to fall. And falling is what causes fractures."

This center fulfills a need for specialized care for patients in the Leeward community.

To make an appointment for a bone density scan or mammogram, or to register for Osteo-cize class, call (808) 535-7000.

More information about the Kapi'olani Women's Center at Pali Momi