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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but breast health is something to pay attention to all year long. 

Mammograms can detect changes in the breast before they can be seen or felt, helping identify breast cancer at an earlier stage. If you are due for screening, Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good reminder to talk with your healthcare professional and make an appointment for a screening mammogram 

For patients in Stephens County and the surrounding area, Stephens Memorial Hospital offers advanced 3D mammography close to home. 

Is it Time for my Mammogram? 

If you’re 40 or older or can’t remember when you had your last mammogram, it may be time to check in with your doctor. Current screening recommendations vary somewhat, but the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening mammograms every two years for women ages 40 to 74 who are at average risk for breast cancer.  

Your provider may recommend starting earlier or being screened more often depending on your family history, personal health history, genetic risk, or other factors. The important thing is not to guess; ask your clinician what screening schedule makes sense for you. 

 “Screening recommendations are a starting point, but they’re not one-size-fits-all. Your age, family history, and personal risk factors all matter, so the best approach is to talk with your healthcare professional about when and how often you should have a mammogram,” said Chief Nursing Officer Beatrice Duncan RN, BSN. 

Advanced Mammography in Breckenridge and Stephens County 

Stephens Memorial Hospital uses the latest high-quality, low-radiation system for breast imaging, providing detailed 3D images. 

3D mammograms: 

• Increases cancer detection rates 

• Reduces the need for follow-up imaging 

• Improves detection for individuals with dense breast tissue 

The goal is simple: provide patients with high-quality breast imaging without requiring them to travel farther than necessary for care. 

Screening Mammograms vs. Diagnostic Mammograms 

Not every mammogram is performed for the same reason. 

A screening mammogram is typically used for patients who do not have symptoms or known breast concerns. Regular screening can help detect breast cancer before symptoms develop. 

A diagnostic mammogram may be ordered when you or your healthcare provider notices something unusual, such as: 

• A new lump; 

• Breast tenderness; 

• Nipple discharge; and/or 

• Changes in the skin or appearance of the breast. 

Diagnostic mammography allows the radiologist to take a closer look and determine whether additional testing may be needed. 

Know When to Talk with Your Healthcare Professional 

Breast cancer screening recommendations can vary based on your age, family history, personal health history, and other risk factors. Your healthcare provider can help you determine when you should begin mammograms and how often you should be screened. 

You should also contact your clinician if you notice a new or unusual breast change, even if you recently had a mammogram. 

This October, take a moment to check in on your breast health. If you are due for a mammogram, talk with your healthcare provider about screening and learn more about the breast imaging services available at Stephens Memorial Hospital. 

To learn more or schedule a mammogram, call 254-559-2241.

At midnight on July 20, 2026, the Stephens Memorial Hospital District will begin using Oracle Health CommunityWorks as its new electronic health record system (EHR).

The new system will provide an integrated patient record that can be accessed at any location in the organization, allowing patients’ healthcare providers to view all Emergency, Outpatient, and Inpatient visit information. It will be used throughout the hospital district, which includes Stephens Memorial Hospital, Breckenridge Medical Center, the Walk-In Clinic at BMC, and SMH Physical Therapy and Wellness.

To ensure that SMH has the most up to date records, health care providers will be collecting all patient demographic information, which includes address, phone number, emergency contact, photo identification, and insurance cards/information, during the first visit after the conversion. The initial registration process will take a bit longer than usual but will then be available no matter which SMHD location the patient visits next, hospital officials said in a news release.

For scheduled appointments after July 20, patients should arrive 20 minutes early to complete the registration process. Patients will need to bring their current photo identification and insurance cards with them.

“We greatly appreciate your patience during this transition, and we are excited about providing you with more efficient care through Oracle’s integrated system,” Van Moore, Community Liaison and Marketing Director at SMH, said.

For more information about the new system or about future visits, contact Stephens Memorial Hospital at 254-559-2241, Breckenridge Medical Center and Walk-In Clinic at 254-559-3363, or SMH Physical Therapy & Wellness Center at 254-559-1864.

Stephens Memorial Hospital leaders will host a community planning forum on Thursday, June 18, as part of a long-term strategic planning program to evaluate future resource investments and service expansions.

As part of the multi-month initiative to strengthen the local healthcare infrastructure, the community forum will be from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Texas State Technical College’s Breckenridge campus, 415 N. Breckenridge Ave. The forum will be open to the public, and those planning to attend are asked to RSVP at www.OurHealthConnect.com/stephens-memorial-hospital.

The upcoming forum follows a community wide survey distributed to county, city and school officials, as well as local and area residents. The survey was designed to gauge public awareness of current services and identify opportunities for healthcare improvement and expansion.

The June 18 event will feature a briefing from SMH leaders as well as assessments from hospital industry leaders from HealthConnect, an Austin-based consulting group with experience in healthcare policy, hospital governance, and strategic business development, particularly focused on rural healthcare.

As part of the forum, moderators from HealthConnect will invite attendee input and facilitate focus group discussions on specific healthcare issues and hospital operations.

“Healthcare is always evolving, and like other industries, we adjust for market trends and market forces, but we are in a unique time where rural hospitals simultaneously are confronting significant threats and presented with new opportunities,” said Gena Speer, CEO of Stephens Memorial Hospital.

“We see this as the perfect time to engage the community as we look toward the future, plan for investments, and consider how best to keep services locally while doing so in a fiscally responsible way,” said Speer, a registered nurse with a master’s degree in nursing.

Hospital leadership emphasized that the strategic planning process is vital not only for patient care but also for the broader local economy.

“Our local economy depends heavily on accessible and reliable high-quality healthcare services. It’s critical for our schools, business owners, law enforcement, and others to have a great hospital that provides dependable care for day-to-day primary care, 24/7 emergency care, as well as specialty services to the extent possible,” said Tom Echols, DVM, Stephens Memorial Hospital District board president. “Hearing from the community and demonstrating our commitment to their needs is an important part of looking toward the future.”

Story by BreckenridgeTexan.com

Stephens Memorial Hospital is celebrating National Hospital Week this week with a mix of traditions, community activities and fundraising opportunities. The week’s events started with the annual Blessing of the Hands this morning and will wrap up with and a cookout for the community on Friday, May 15.

Organized by the American Hospital Association, National Hospital Week recognizes the dedication of more than 6 million caregivers and staff nationwide, highlighting their contributions to healthcare. The 2026 National Hospital Week is May 10-16, which overlaps a few days with National Nurses Week, May 6-12.

Locally, SMH is honoring its staff all week with special events, giveaways, etc. The theme for this year’s National Hospital Week is “Healing Happens Here,” with a stated focus on the resilience, innovation and compassion of healthcare workers.

Today, Tuesday, May 12, many Breckenridge healthcare workers gathered at the SMH helicopter landing pad for Rev. Otho Noggle’s annual Blessing of the Hands.

Rev. Noggle, who was assisted by Joe Knust, walked the circle, placing olive oil in the hands of each participant while sharing the biblical significance of the olive tree and the historical healing properties of its oil. The service concluded with a prayer for the healthcare employees and their work.

To see more pictures from the Blessing of the Hands ceremony, click here for the Breckenridge Texan’s Photo Gallery.

To celebrate the conclusion of Hospital Week, SMH invites the community to lunch on the front lawn of the hospital, 200 S. Geneva St., Friday, May 15. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the hospital staff will be serving free hamburgers and hotdogs, along with chips and a drink, to all visitors.

Fundraising Drawing

Also on Friday, the SMH Foundation’s fundraising raffle benefiting the SMH Senior Meals Program will conclude.

The drawing will be for four prizes:

• Two-person portable hammock
• Portable propane pizza oven
• Three-piece patio set
• Rocker chair with side table

Tickets for the drawing cost $5 each or 5 for $20 and are available at the SMH front desk. Ticket sales will end at 10 a.m. on May 15, with the drawing held later that day.

The SMH Senior Meals Program provides meals to local seniors and shut-ins, similar to the Meals on Wheels program. Both programs are handled through the hospital, and the meals are delivered by volunteers in the community.

Stephens Memorial Hospital announced today that Dr. William E. Prater, MD., recently retired after more than 40 years as a physician and over 35 years of caring for his patients in Breckenridge.

Dr. Prater’s last day was Thursday, Jan. 29.

“He has been a cornerstone of our medical community during that time and his presence will be missed,” Gena Speer, hospital CEO said in a press release.

Patients are encouraged to contact Breckenridge Medical Center to set up a seamless transition to one of the hospital’s other medical providers. If patients need a copy of their medical records, they may request them by completing a medical records request form from the Medical Center at 101 S Hartford St, Breckenridge, TX 76424 or by calling 254-559-3363.

Dr. Prater earned his board-certification in Family Practice in 1985, has membership in the Texas Medical Association, and has been practicing in Breckenridge since July 1990. He received his Bachelor of Science from Texas A&M University and completed his Doctor of Medicine Degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston and his residency in Family Practice at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth.

The Breckenridge community has been privileged to have Dr. Prater for these 35-plus years as he has delivered many babies, performed multiple surgeries, and had a deep connection with all his patients, especially the elderly, hospital staff said in the news release. He has won several People’s Choice Awards, has served as Chief of Staff, and has represented Stephens Memorial Hospital and Breckenridge Medical Center on other committees and boards.

“Stephens Memorial Hospital and Breckenridge Medical Center would like to thank Dr. Prater for his dedication to our Hospital District and especially the many patients that received his care,” the press release stated. “We wish Dr. Prater the very best in his retirement.”

January is National Blood Donor Month, and Stephens Memorial Hospital will host a blood drive with Carter BloodCare from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7.

The Carter BloodCare bus will be set up in the Breckenridge Medical Center parking lot at 101. S Hartford St. Blood donors can register online (click here) or register in person on Wednesday.

All donors will get a $25 e-gift card.

Carter BloodCare notes each unit of donated whole blood can save three lives. That is possible when the donated blood is separated into three components: red blood cells, platelets and plasma. With 1,600 units collected on an average day, Carter BloodCare donors help 4,800 patients in need daily, or 33,600 patients each week.

Blood donated locally with Carter BloodCare stays in the 57 North, Central and East Texas counties served by Carter BloodCare, including Stephens County.

Texas blood donors help children fighting cancer, mothers going through difficult childbirths, organ transplant recipients, open-heart surgery patients, older adults with age-related health issues, sickle cell disease patients, people hurt in life-threatening vehicle accidents and others with severe trauma injuries.

Residents can begin donating blood at 16 years old with parental consent; those 17 and older can donate independently. Eligible Carter BloodCare donors must weigh at least 110 pounds and feel well on the day of their donation. For more details about donating blood, visit the Carter BloodCare website.

Stephens Memorial Hospital will host its Diamond Anniversary Gala on New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, beginning at 7 p.m., benefiting the SMH Foundation.

The fundraising event will be held at the Stephens County Airport in the hangar of Brett Grigry on Private Road 1501.

The evening will include a dinner catered by Soggy Dog Wine & Brew, with musical accompaniment by the Texas Violinist. Entertainment will continue with Yesterdaze Wine and featured band The Redwine Band from Dallas as guests ring in 2026 with a balloon drop and champagne toast.

Additional activities and amenities will include bar service, a silent auction, valet parking, a photo booth by SnapJoy Photo Booth, and special souvenir gifts.

The schedule for the evening includes:

• 7 p.m. – Dinner catered by Soggy Dog Wine & Brew with Music by Texas Violinist
• 8:30 p.m. – Performance by Yesterdaze Wine
• 10:30 p.m. – Performance by The Redwine Band
• Midnight – Champagne Toast & Balloon Drop

Tickets cost $80 per person or $150 per couple and are available online at https://smhfoundation.ticketspice.com/diamond-anniversary (with an online order fee).

Earlier this year, the SMH Foundation raised more than $8,000 with its inaugural Winter Gala/Masquerade Ball in January, and the money — combined with funds raised by the SMH Auxiliary, aka Pink Ladies — helped the hospital purchase the hospital’s new mammography machine.

Stephens Memorial Hospital opened its doors in January 1951 and will celebrate its 75th anniversary in 2026.

Stephens Memorial Hospital is hosting its annual Stockings for Seniors drive to provide gifts for home-bound senior citizens in Breckenridge and Stephens County.

Organizers are asking the community to get a stocking and fill it with a variety of items. Suggested donations include non-slip socks, hats, gloves, scarves, and lap blankets. Personal care items such as lotions and body wash, as well as non-perishable pre-packaged snacks, are also requested. Additionally, donors may include crossword and word search books, along with pens and pencils.

The stockings will be delivered to the seniors who receive Senior Meals and Meals on Wheels. There are about 150 senior citizens who receive the meals locally.

Stockings may be dropped off at Stephens Memorial Hospital, located at 200 S. Geneva St. Donations are being accepted now through Dec. 22. Drop-off hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The hospital noted that drivers for the meal delivery programs are also needed.

For more information, call Van Moore or Sarah at 254-559-2241.

At their meeting last week, Stephens County Judge Michael Roach and the County Commissioners declared today, Nov. 20, as National Rural Health Day in Stephens County.

“(We) encourage all citizens to join us in celebrating the power of rural and recognizing the vital contributions of healthcare providers, organizations and advocates serving rural America; further, we urge individuals, organizations, business community leaders, to support initiatives aimed at expanding access to care and strengthening rural health systems,” Roach said as he read the proclamation.

Stephens Memorial Hospital Chief Executive Office Gena Speer and other hospital representatives attended the commissioners meeting for the honor.

“Stephens Memorial Hospital is proud to serve Breckenridge and the surrounding rural communities as the backdrop of quality care close to home,” Speer said in the CEO’s Message on the SMH website. “Rural hospitals increase local access and allow patients to focus on ‘getting better’ rather than ‘getting to appointments.’ Rural healthcare does more than bring medical care to patients in sparsely populated areas – healthcare can bring vitality to rural communities. Here, most of our patients aren’t strangers, they are friends and family.”

SMH joins communities across the country in celebrating National Rural Health Day on Thursday, Nov. 20. Since 2011, the annual observance — founded and coordinated by the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health (NOSORH) has been held on the third Thursday of November to spotlight the healthcare challenges of the nearly 61 million people living in rural America.

This year, Stephens Memorial Hospital is marking the occasion by joining the nationwide #PowerOfRural social media campaign on the hospital’s Facebook page. Community members, partners and stakeholders are encouraged to participate and help highlight rural health’s impact in Stephens County.

“Rural communities are the backbone of our state, and their health is vital to our collective future,” Van Moore, community liaison and marketing director of SMH, said in a news release. “We’re proud to celebrate National Rural Health Day and honor the unwavering commitment of rural healthcare providers, organizations, and community leaders who work every day to improve the lives of others.”

For more information about National Rural Health Day and how to get involved, visit PowerOfRural.org. To learn more about Stephens Memorial Hospital, visit www.smhtx.com.

PHOTO CAPTION: Stephens County Judge Michael Roach presents Stephens Memorial Hospital CEO Gena Speer with a proclamation declaring Nov. 20 as National Rural Health Day in Stephens County. They are surrounded by the county commissioners and several hospital employees. (Photo by Tony Pilkington/Breckenridge Texan)