Tyler – The CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System Ross Breast Center unveiled its new, state-of-the-art Mobile Mammography Unit during the Toast to East Texas Fundraising Kickoff Event on Thursday.
“The new mammography coach is truly exceptional and will offer leading edge care to the women of northeast Texas who need it most,” said Bobby McMillian, Administrative Director of System Imaging for CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Health System. “It is a beautiful and comfortable space, filled with state-of-the-art equipment that will help us improve access to care for thousands of women across the region – and it will help us save lives.”
The new vehicle contains a wealth of incredible equipment and features designed to make accessing needed care even easier for patients. The exterior is equipped with a large awning to provide a patient education area for health fairs and a cover in case of rain. The new stair and entry design is designed with slip-resistant flooring to provide stability as the patient enters the coach and lessens the potential for falls.
The interior is designed with the patient experience in mind, from employing a relaxing color scheme to integrating smooth, calming textures. The registration area is larger and more comfortable, due to the addition of plush seating tucked in a slide-out, which allows for more room between the patient registration and waiting areas. This area includes a large TV for education and entertainment while patients await their exam.
It is also specifically designed for a digital environment, with an enhanced network and Wi-Fi system for transmitting data.
In addition to the improving the patient’s experience, the new vehicle boasts industry-leading medical technology.
“The coach is equipped with a new Hologic Genesis Full Field Digital Mammography unit,” said Natalie Hanson, RT (R) (M), Mammography Compliance Coordinator at the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Ross Breast Center. “This unit provides a lower dose to the patient, and it processes images at a faster speed, allowing for shorter exam times. It is equipped with high-resolution monitors that provide exceptionally fine detail for reviewing patient images as they are acquired, thereby reducing the chance for recall due to motion or technical repeats.”
The coach also uses SMART Flexing Paddles: two paddles designed for comfort and enhanced tissue grip, as well as the FAST Paddle system, which conforms to natural contours of the breast, providing greater comfort to the patient and more even compression across the entire breast.
“Each detail of this vehicle is engineered to improve the mammography experience for our patients and for our medical staff,” said Hanson. “From the HEPA-filtered air-conditioning and heating system, to the anti-microbial seat coverings, to the recessed lighting with dimmers – we wanted to provide our patients with a best-in-class experience to match the nationally-recognized health care the Ross Breast Center has been providing to the women of Northeast Texas for years.”
“Thanks to the generosity and drive of the Women’s Board, we are able to make a direct impact on the lives of thousands of women in this region,” said McMillian.
A Toast to East Texas is a series of 10-12 parties that will take place over a period of one month, mid-April to mid-May benefiting the projects of the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation Women’s Board. Generous patrons from the community will hold private parties in their home or at a location of their own choosing at no cost to the CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Frances Foundation. The Foundation Women’s Board will solicit sponsors and sell tickets to the events.
“Beginning in 2016 and spanning the months of April and May, ‘Toast’ included nine parties in fabulous homes and venues in the Tyler area,” said Darla Childress, the 2016 Chair. “When all parties were completed the event had raised over $280,000, well beyond the goal. All the proceeds benefit the Women’s Board designated project: this new Mobile Mammography Coach! With the participation of our gracious party Hosts, our generous sponsors and the entire Women’s Board, we were able to mobilize the community and make a real impact for Women’s health in Northeast Texas.”
“The past year was a wonderful success, and we are incredibly proud to be carrying this event forward in 2017,” said Jion Dietz, the 2017 Toast to East Texas Co-Chair. “The Women’s Board and the surrounding community are committed to maintaining this effort and to enacting positive and lasting impact in Women’s health care.”
“This year, the funds raised will go to support a newly planned Pediatric Waiting Room of the Emergency Department at CHRISTUS Mother Frances Hospital – Tyler,” said Mercedes Noteware, 2017 event Co-Chair. “As many as 13,000 children come through the doors of the Emergency Department every year. This dedicated Pediatric space – apart from the adult emergency area – will shield children from potentially frightening adult emergencies and have many child-friendly features to help make their visit as smooth as possible, and minimize stress. The area will be designed with attention to the small things that can make a big difference to children and their families.”
