WINNEMUCCA - Humboldt General Hospital's Radiology Department is preparing to debut a new digital mammography system, and the community is invited to help celebrate.
The Selenia Dimensions 2D Full-Field Digital Mammography System began serving patients on Thursday, Jan. 19.
An open house will be held from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 28, in the Radiology Department, to officially introduce the new system to the community.
Community residents are invited to stop by for a free continental breakfast, tours of the mammo room, free giveaways and the chance to take part in creating a "Wall of Hope" in honor of breast cancer fighters and survivors.
Additionally, a larger community awareness campaign entitled, "Paint Winnemucca Pink," will be introduced to the community as part of the open house celebration.
Winnemucca businesses will be asked to display a "Paint Winnemucca Pink" decal on their windows signaling their support for breast cancer awareness and education.
Small, informational cards - featuring "Paint Winnemucca Pink" information - also will be distributed at area businesses, to help educate women about early detection of breast cancer.
Further, from Thursday, Jan. 26, through Thursday, Feb. 2, Humboldt General Hospital's Emergency Medical Services Rescue Department will don pink exam gloves in an effort to draw the community's attention to the new digital mammography system.
Humboldt General Hospital Radiology Manager Pam Wickkiser said the new system constitutes the latest technology in breast cancer detection.
"Humboldt General Hospital now has the best of the best in early detection equipment," said Wickkiser. "As a department and a hospital, we truly feel we have something to celebrate."
The $225,000 machine was approved by the Humboldt General Hospital District Board of Trustees in October 2011.
With digital mammography, low energy X-rays pass through the breast exactly like conventional mammograms but are recorded by means of an electronic digital detector instead of film.
This electronic image can be displayed on a video monitor like a TV or printed onto film and CD. Radiologists are then able to manipulate the digital image electronically to magnify an area, change contrast or alter the brightness.
Patients undergoing digital mammographic examinations will see few differences during the examination itself.
There is more equipment in the room, including a small TV monitor, which allows the mammographic technologist to view the mammogram in several seconds instead of developing films and waiting 10 minutes to see an image.
Breast compression, unfortunately, is still required to produce optimal images at the lowest possible radiation dose.
However, the call-back rate (the number of women who need to return for additional diagnostic mammograms after a screening mammogram) will decline because of the new technology.
Also, since digital images are available within seconds of exposure, interventional procedures such as needle localizations requiring X-ray guidance performed on digital machines are much faster for the patient. The time the breast is in compression is also shorter.
"We are really thrilled with this new technology and with the advantages it will give our patients," said Wickkiser. "Breast cancer has a high cure rate when caught early; this machine will be a great ally in our quest for early detection."
For more information on the hospital's new Selenia Dimensions 2D Full-Field Digital Mammography System or on the Digital Mammo Open House scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 28, please call Humboldt General Hospital Radiology Manager Pam Wickkiser at (775) 623-5222, ext. 130.
Area businesses who would like to request the free window decal and pass-along cards that will help them take part in the accompanying "Paint Winnemucca Pink" breast cancer awareness campaign may contact HGH Community Education and Development Director Nicole Maher at (775) 761-2624 or via e-mail at nicole@hghospital.ws.
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