Please contact Christopher Richards
cr @ November 17, 2007
When Woman’s Hospital in Baton Rouge, a leader in diagnosis of breast cancer, upgraded their mammography equipment to digital, it became apparent that something needed to be done about their existing outreach program.
The old way
Eleven years ago, when Woman’s started their mammography outreach program, they operated from small vans, wheeling the mammography -units into a remote location. Film processing was done back at the hospital. Now that they’ve upgraded to digital equipment, they abandoned their old analog film processing.
“We had two choices,” said Cynthia Rabalais, director of imaging services at Woman’s Hospital. “We could either abandon our mammography outreach program, or purchase a vehicle that the digital equipment could ride in.”
The only outreach provider in the state
Ms. Rabalais and her administrative team had no intention of abandoning the nearly 5,000 women served by the mobile program. The digital coach was purchased by Woman’s Hospital with the help from several community organizations. Funding from the CDC, through the Louisiana Breast and Cervical Health program serving uninsured and underinsured women, helps to fund mammography services performed on new vehicle.
The mobile mammography unit
“We looked at four vendors before deciding on LifeLine Mobile Inc,” said Ms. Rabalais. “LifeLine was an easy choice, they have a better product, their product is better thought out, and quite frankly, they also build a relationship with their customers. There was never a time that I couldn’t pick up the phone and ask, why are we doing this? Lifeline made us feel very comfortable, and it was an enjoyable learning experience.”
Getting started
It took a year to decide to go digital and select the vehicle vendor. It took a further nine months from the time LifeLine Mobile received the purchase order to delivery date of the mobile mammography unit.
“It seems fitting that LifeLine should take nine months to produce a specialty vehicle for Woman’s Hospital, which offers maternity services,” joked Ms. Rabalais.
Operations
“Going digital is much more efficient. We can see more patients in a shorter time. A big advantage is that there is almost no cost of supplies,” said Ms. Rabalais.
On board the 40-foot long mobile mammography vehicle is a driver-greeter, a registrar who also is responsible for patient intake, and two technologists.
The program reaches the eight-parish service area of Woman’s Hospital and beyond. Staff is specially trained to work with low-literacy patients.
The program hit the streets on November 30, 2006, seeing 26 patients the first day, and is now working to capacity. Woman’s continues to lead the way in effective breast screening programs that are producing real gains in early detection and treatment.
Ms. Rabalais is still suffering from new vehicle syndrome, but she says she will be cured once the vehicle has a few scratches on it.
cr @ February 2, 2007