Better mammograms

Feb. 8, 2008

Barton HealthCare System

Denise Sloan Smart

530-543-5617

dsloan@bartonhealth.org



FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



Stateline Medical Center enhances diagnostic capabilities with full-field digital mammography



By Denise Sloan Smart

Barton HealthCare System

In order to provide patients with optimal breast imaging and comfort with lower x-ray dosage, the Barton HealthCare System installed a MAMMOMAT NovationDR digital mammography system from Siemens Medical Solutions at Stateline Medical Center . The digital mammography equipment is now running full scale.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, breast cancer incidence in women has increased from one in 20 in 1960 to one in eight today. If detected early, the five-year survival rate for this disease exceeds 95 percent.

MAMMOMAT NovationDR enables physicians and clinicians to better pinpoint the disease and plan treatment. The system also meets the demands of modern mammography practices like Barton’s, by providing the latest in digital screening and diagnosis — all in one system.

“Regularly scheduled mammograms are not only highly recommended but can often detect a lesion long before it can be felt,” said Tim Gilliam , director of Barton’s Medical Imaging Department. “With this innovative new system, screening and diagnostics can be performed on a single unit, while both image quality and dose exposure reduction achieve an optimum level,” he said.

“Our new mammography system will help the Barton HealthCare System provide women with the best possible exams. In addition to increased diagnostic capabilities, NovationDR is also designed to reduce the discomfort associated with mammography,” he said.

At 24 by 29 centimeters, the size of the NovationDR image detector allows imaging of a wider range of patient breast sizes and its new paddle design provides easier and more comfortable patient positioning. The system enables a direct conversion of X-ray to digital information and features MammoReportPlus, a multi-modality workstation with the ability to accept Computer Assisted Diagnosis (CAD) markers — which helps increase cancer detection rates.

MammoReportPlus provides ultra-fast, high-volume mammogram reading, permitting users to switch between eight-view mammographic studies in less than one second, there by improving workflow in the process.

The Barton Memorial Hospital will go digital with its mammography equipment in late February. Cost for the two new pieces of equipment exceeded $650,000.

“We are committed to providing the latest mammography technology possible for our community at prices that are competitive with anyone else,” said Gilliam.

Funding for the equipment was provided in part by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, Northern Nevada affiliate in the form of a grant to the hospital for its Breast Health Program. That program includes free mammograms to all women and men who qualify regardless of age. Call 543-5537 for an application.

For more information on digital mammography, call Stateline Medical Center at (775) 589-8952. www.nationalbreastcancer.org

###