Brattleboro Memorial Hospital (BMH) has received a grant from the Susan G. Komen® Vermont-New Hampshire Affiliate to support access to early detection and treatment programs for disabled patients.
With the Komen grant, BMH has purchased a specialized “Mammochair” to enhance the patient experience and enable BMH technologists to maximize patient positioning and ensure better images for diagnosis. The mammography chair is maneuverable, allowing the technologist to manipulate positions without constant readjustment of the patient.
The chance of a woman having invasive breast cancer during her life is about 1 in 8, according to the American Cancer Society. The addition of the Mammochair in BMH’s Comprehensive Breast Care Program will improve screening results and permit subsequent imaging treatments that previously were limited for patients who have disabilities or physical challenges. The Mammochair is available as a free service for patients.
“We are thankful to the Susan G. Komen VT/NH Affiliate for this opportunity,” says Marcy Rushford, Director of Radiology and Cardiology. “It improves access and quality of care for patients with physical challenges, who are often those with the greatest needs. Already, we have been able to put the Mammochair to good use and are seeing significant benefits.”
The BMH Comprehensive Breast Care Program exemplifies the hospital’s commitment to women’s health throughout the continuum, from advanced diagnostics and screening tools to genetic testing and the latest surgical techniques. BMH cancer services locally include surgery, medical oncology, chemotherapy, physical therapy, dietary counseling and survivorship programs. Its state-of-the-art imaging includes digital mammography, breast MRI, ultrasound, bone densitometry, CT scanning and stereotactic biopsy.
According to its website at www.komenvtnh.org, the Vermont-New Hampshire Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® is dedicated to combating breast cancer at every front. Up to 75 percent of the Affiliate’s net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health education and breast cancer screening and treatment programs for medically underserved women. The remaining net income (a minimum of 25 percent) supports the national Komen Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards and educational and scientific programs around the world.
For more information, visit the BMH Comprehensive Breast Care Program online or call 802-251-8431.
