Saint Luke’s mobile mammography program brings care close to home

Sept. 22, 2011 - PRLog -- KANSAS CITY, Mo. — When it comes to breast cancer, early diagnosis saves lives. But each year, only 68 percent of women who should get a mammogram do. Some women may be hesitant because they have heard it’s uncomfortable or they just don’t make the time. However, some women are not getting mammograms simply because they cannot afford one.

“If breast cancer is detected in its early stages before it spreads out of its original duct, survival is approaching 98 percent, so it’s important for all women meeting screening guidelines to get this screening annually,” said Sallie Brackman, R.T. (R.M.), lead mammographer at the Saint Luke’s North Hospital Center for Women’s Care.

Through the support of Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the Spelman Medical Foundation has been able to provide a grant to the Saint Luke’s North Hospital Center for Women’s Care for free mobile mammograms to uninsured and underinsured women in the community since 2005. What began with one location annually now averages five to six locations per year, reaching approximately 125 women yearly.

“The mobile mammogram program is so important because many of these patients would not be able to get an annual mammogram without it,” said Kelly Szala, M.S.N., R.N.C., W.H.N.P., nurse navigator at the Center for Women’s Care. “It serves the population that is caught in the middle—they don’t have insurance or are underinsured but can’t qualify for Medicaid/Medicare. This population usually struggles to receive health care.”

The women who attend the mobile outings not only get a screening mammogram but also receive a clinical breast exam, along with education on performing a breast self-exam. The clinical breast exam is performed by a staff member who is certified through MammaCare and is able to perform a standardized, systematic exam. Each year, women who have previously attended are privy to the first spots, and there are always many repeat patients.

Cheryl Thomas-Boone has been attending one of the Center for Women’s Care mobile mammography outings since 2009.

“The staff showed me different ways to examine my breasts than I’ve ever been told,” Thomas-Boone said. “They’ve taught me a lot. Last year they had a model of a breast that had cancer so we could feel it.

“I used to cringe about getting a mammogram, but now I look forward to it,” she said. “The staff is just wonderful—they really make you feel at home. And it was easy! Everyone should go and get checked.”

While a few locations are at Saint Luke’s entities, most are at outside businesses who donate their place of business for the cause.

Four mobile mammography outings remain for 2011: Tuesday, Oct. 11 and Thursday, Nov. 17 at Saint Luke’s North Hospital–Smithville Campus; Thursday, Oct. 13 at UPHA American Royal (American Royal Offices); and Tuesday, Oct. 18 at Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church. All screenings are from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. by appointment only. Availability is limited to 25 women per location and appointments are given to women who are uninsured or underinsured. To register, call NurseLine at 816-932-6220.

Saint Luke’s North Hospital also offers walk-in mammograms Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 9 a.m. – noon at the Center for Women’s Care. Walk-in mammograms are billed to insurance.

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Saint Luke's Health System based in Kansas City, Mo., consists of 11 area hospitals in northwest Missouri and eastern Kansas, and several primary and specialty care practices. We provide a range of inpatient, outpatient, and home care services.