Hologic - Clarity of Vision

The third reason for the exceptional growth in the practice: the patients themselves. The women of the Triad area are educated, and have researched the technologies available to them.

"I have a lot of patients that have done their homework," says Dr. Brown. "I am impressed with the number of patients that come in knowing about digital and coming here specifically because we have digital."

"They like the idea of digital mammograms," Allen says, "they know that it is going to give them a better exam, and that the quality is better."

According to Lead Technologist Diane Ball (RT)(R)(M), patients have found the new Selenia systems quite comfortable compared to the previous analog units. "The FAST paddles with the Selenia are great," Ball says, "Several patients have actually commented that they feel much more comfortable with the new units, and that the compression especially is much better, and not as intimidating for them."

"We have seen number of new patients, more than we had seen before, because of the digital technology," Allen states, "There was a whole lot of unmet need out there; we can now begin to fulfill that need."

Financial Rewards of Digital

Combine the increased capacity resulting from the installation of the Selenia technology, with the extended hours of operation at the Center, and the higher insurance reimbursement rates for digital mammography, and the Breast Center has seen substantial financial growth as well. "We have gone from an 'okay' financial position, to a really impressive, almost unbelievable financial position," Allen says, "Thanks in large part to the digital technology."

Medical Impact of Digital

With an average patient throughput of anywhere from 85 to 115 women per day, The Breast Center once already has seen a one-day high mark of 139 women. Of those numbers, fully one third of the women are there for diagnostic exams. "That number, when you think about it, represents a significant number of diagnostic procedures," Allen says.

"More patients," says Dr. Brown, "means more screenings, which will inevitably lead to a higher percentage of diagnostic procedures, which ultimately means that we will discover more cancers."

Cindy Strable, Administrative Director for the Breast Center, says that the patient centered environment is more than just a catch phrase. "It is one of our greatest strengths." Strable says, "We are very aware of the patient's experience here, and we work to ease any anxiety the women are feeling." This is especially important for women who come to the Center for diagnostic procedures. "The radiologist meets with the women immediately after the procedure and if a biopsy is needed, we can usually do it the same day. We can get the pathology report the next day, and if a surgical appointment is needed, we can schedule that within forty-eight hours."

According to Dr. Brown, the combination of the Selenia image quality and the Hologic MultiCare stereotactic biopsy table makes diagnostic procedures much easier to perform. "Needle localizations are very quick, and very efficient," she says, "the Selenia's full resolution image provides plenty of magnification for most procedures."

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