St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital Announces Addition of Digital Mammography Equipment to Radiology Department
The most modern method now is available in Coaldale
COALDALE, PA – (10/23/2008) – St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital radiologist, J. David Bohri, MD announced today that the hospital has installed new digital mammography equipment that will help physicians detect and diagnose breast cancer patients earlier and more accurately. The system, called the GE Senographe® 2000D full-field digital mammography system, is designed and manufactured by GE Medical Systems to provide physicians with clear and precise all-digital images rather than on X-ray film.
“The new system will revolutionize breast care and help us provide the most advanced care for our patients,” said Dr. Bohri. “The technology provides outstanding quality and clear, highly-detailed images. It offers a better view of the breast, especially near the skin line, chest wall and in women with all breast tissue types.”
Compassionate Care for Every Woman
“We take care in treating every woman carefully, whether she is visiting us for her first or twenty-first mammogram. We are sure to explain the process to her and make her feel as comfortable as possible with the mammogram,” said Anita Hiles, RT (R) (M), Mammography Technologist. “We are specially trained in mammography and are better able to perform the mammogram while providing compassionate care to each patient.”
Advanced Technology for Fast and Accurate Diagnoses
Once the digital images are taken, they are then reviewed at GE's Seno Advantage Review Workstation. “This workstation allows physicians to quickly review patient images at a single location,” says Dr. Bohri. “Physicians have the ability to pull up a patient's previous mammography exams for historical comparison, or for comparison against other types of images, such as those acquired by ultrasound or MRI, resulting in a more comprehensive view of a specific patient's medical history. If a second opinion is needed, I may send the image electronically to another radiologist for review.” Another benefit – the workstation also simplifies the sharing of information and images to referring physicians and surgeons.
Sally Zaloga, RT, (R) St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital Radiology Manager added, “It is very exciting for our community hospital to have digital mammography. Since the digital mammogram takes as little as half the time of a film mammogram, Dr. Bohri is able to read the images during our patient's scheduled appointment. This allows for the woman to leave her appointment having a precise diagnosis and knowing what next steps need to be taken for good breast health.”
This advanced system is enhanced by computer-aided detection (CAD) software, which acts as a radiologist's second pair of eyes when reading a mammogram. Similar to a spellchecker on a personal computer, this technology has the potential to detect findings that might otherwise be overlooked during the review process. “CAD technology is especially effective in identifying calcifications in the breast, some of which can be cancerous,” says Dr. Bohri.
Importance of Annual Mammograms
As a closing thought, Barbara Porambo, RT (R) (M) (CV), Mammography Technologist added, “I can not stress enough the importance of women over 40 getting a routine mammogram. It is our responsibility to ourselves, as women, to schedule an appointment every year.”
The American Cancer Society recommends that women over 40 get an annual mammogram, obtain an annual clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional and perform monthly breast self-exams. Women with a history of breast cancer should see their family physician or OB/GYN for a mammogram earlier. A script from a physician is needed to get a mammogram.
Digital mammography is available at St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital, 360 West Ruddle Street, in Coaldale. For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call 570-645-8144.
St. Luke's Miners Memorial Hospital has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Digital Mammography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology. The ACR, headquartered in Reston, VA, awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR's Committee of Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.