Cancer

Spectrum Health Mobile Mammography Unit Expands Service

Mobile unit is designed to meet COVID-19 safety guidelines

 GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., May 27, 2020 –  Spectrum Health is ready to provide mammograms in the era of COVID-19 in the safest way possible.

All screening facilities available through Spectrum Health and Betty Ford Breast Care Services are open and are following the CDC guidelines for safe operations. In addition, the Betty Ford Breast Care Services Mobile Mammography Unit has expanded the number of locations on its schedule to allow more women to be screened for potential breast concerns.

“Our mobile unit is designed to allow for each patient to receive care without other patients nearby. We are also able to ensure that the unit is completely cleaned between appointments,” said Gerri Roobol, director, Betty Ford Breast Care and Cancer Services.

Spectrum Health, along with medical providers throughout the country, is concerned that patients are avoiding important screenings and health care because of a fear of potential exposure to COVID-19.

“We don’t want people to put off their mammograms or other screenings or appointments because, particularly when cancer is involved, the sooner we can begin treatment, the better,” said Roobol.

The Spectrum Health mobile mammography unit, as well as all of the Betty Ford Breast Care Services locations, offer 3-D mammography in addition to traditional digital screening. The 3-D mammography, also known as tomosynthesis, has proven particularly effective in screening patients with dense breasts.

Betty Ford Breast Care Services, which has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology, performs more than 95,000 breast imaging studies and diagnostic services annually – more than any other organization in West Michigan. Approximately 3,000 of these screenings are provided through the mobile units.

Patients may view the mobile mammography schedule at spectrumhealth.org/mobileunit. To schedule a mammogram screening at a mobile location, patients can call 616.774.7998.  While insurance is accepted on mobile units, there are free mammograms provided for uninsured or under insured patients who qualify. For more information about this option, patients can call 616.486.6022.

More information about COVID-19 is posted on the Spectrum Health website.

 

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Sarina Gleason
Media Relations
Phone: 517.256.5618
Email: sarina.gleason@corewellhealth.org

Andrea Finnigan
Media Relations and Newsroom Web Manager
Office: 616.486.2535
Mobile: 616.293.6050
Email: andrea.finnigan@corewellhealth.org