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June 21, 2010
by Jennifer Westfall
Hospital News
For Immediate Release
June 21, 2010
Contact: Jennifer Westfall
Franklin Regional Medical Center
919-497-8460 or jwestfall@novanthealth.org
Franklin Regional Medical Center Brings High-Tech Digital Mammography to Franklin County
New Technology Makes Detecting Breast Cancer More Accurate
Louisburg, NC – Franklin Regional Medical Center and its diagnostic imaging department recently added digital mammography, a state-of-the-art technology that provides the latest advancements in the early detection of breast cancer.
“We are excited to have this new technology available for the county,” said Diane Gibbs, director of radiology at Franklin Regional. “Wake Radiology’s team of expert, board-certified subspecialty physicians now has an even more advanced system for interpreting digital images.”
From the patient’s perspective, digital mammography is much like the traditional film screen mammography. Both use X-ray to generate images of the breast; however the new technology can now convert X-ray energy into a digital image. The resulting images are then immediately created on the technologist’s screen, thereby reducing the amount of time patients spend in the diagnostic imaging department and also decreasing the need for retaking X-rays.
From the physician’s perspective, digital mammography has paved the way for innovation in early detection. Research has shown that digital mammography may be more accurate in screening three types of women:
· Under age 50
· Of any age with very dense or extremely dense breast tissue
· Pre- or peri-menopausal women of any age
Franklin Regional’s diagnostic imaging department is staffed with radiologic technologists and physician radiologists with special training in mammography to provide that extra level of comfort and care. “We are committed to providing timely and accurate results to women who receive a mammogram,” said Dr. Joseph Melamed, medical director of radiology at Franklin Regional. “Digital mammography will help us provide the best possible patient experience to everyone who walks through the door.”
“Digital mammography technology costs approximately $500,000 and Franklin Regional made the decision to add this important capability within several months after joining its new organization, Novant Health,” explained Gibbs.
The American Cancer Society publishes mammography guidelines for women. The national organization recommends the following:
- Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health
- Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over. Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
- The American Cancer Society recommends that some women -- because of their family history, a genetic tendency, or certain other factors -- seek further screenings (the number of women who fall into this category is small: less than 2% of all the women in the US). For more information on the American Cancer Society guidelines visit http://www.cancer.org.
To schedule a mammography or any other appointments please call 919-497-8410 and for more information on Franklin Regional visit www.FranklinRegional.org. You can now follow Franklin Regional on Facebook and Twitter for health tips, hospital news and educational information at www.facebook.com/franklinregional on Facebook and www.twitter.com/franklinfmc on Twitter.
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Franklin Regional Medical Center of Louisburg, NC is part of Novant Health, a not-for-profit integrated group of hospitals and physician practices, caring for patients and communities in North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina. The Novant Medical Group consists of 1,050 physicians in 343 clinic locations. Other Novant hospitals include the following: Presbyterian Hospital, Presbyterian Orthopaedic Hospital, Presbyterian Hospital Matthews and Presbyterian Hospital Huntersville in the Charlotte, NC area; Forsyth Medical Center and Medical Park Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC; Thomasville Medical Center, Thomasville, NC; Brunswick Community Hospital, Supply, NC; Rowan Regional Medical Center, Salisbury, NC; Upstate Carolina Medical Center, Gaffney, SC; and Prince William Hospital, Manassas, VA. Other Novant facilities and programs include nursing homes and assisted living, outpatient surgery centers, medical plazas, rehabilitation programs, community health outreach programs and the national MedQuest organization with 105 diagnostic imaging centers in 13 states. Novant Health is ranked 17th nationally among the 2010 Top 100 Integrated Healthcare Networks, according to an analysis by the SDI health informatics company.
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