MOBILE MAMMOGRAPHY VAN
The OID is currently seeking funding for a new mobile mammography unit and a women’s health unit as part of the contribution to screening for Breast Cancer on the Island of Jamaica. OID’s fundraising is an ongoing commitment to the community, to help ensure the screening of women across the island of Jamaica.
OID proposes to purchase a mobile mammography unit to provide services for women in underserved areas of Jamaica, WI. The proposed mobile unit will also have a space to perform gynecological exams to test for cervical cancer risk. The proposed unit is 40’ long equipped with a mammography unit, an exam room, and a waiting room. The mobile unit will enable OID to travel throughout Jamaica to perform exams for women in underserved urban areas, remote rural areas as well as industrial areas where women work long hours in factories and free trade zones. The unit will have the ability to travel through the island including remote areas that have easy road access. In the last few years, the development of roads and infrastructure in Jamaica has increased. Formerly remote areas have improved access making it viable for a mobile unit to be stationed in rural areas for a period.
IMPORTANCE OF MAMMOGRAPHY SCREENING
OID proposes to install a digital mammography unit on the van. Digital Mammography has been proven to detect cancer at a higher rate than self-breast exams and other clinical breast exams. Full-Field Digital Mammography is the standard of treatment for the detection of Breast Cancer in the United States. Studies have shown that this form of technology can promote early detection and thereby reduce patient morbidity and medical costs. Digital Breast exams are also less expensive than other diagnostic tests. (Fuller, Lee, & Elmore, 2015) (Jamaica Cancer Society, 2019) In addition to digital mammography, OID proposes to have an ultrasound unit to work in collaboration with the mammography unit for patients that may have dense breast tissue. While mammography is the standard form of detection Ultrasound technology has been found to have comparable detection rates.
To meet the technological demands of the project, OID will utilize a radiological information system (RIS). This system is used for the electronic management of imaging departments. Similar to an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) the RIS can be used for patient scheduling, resource management, examination performance tracking, reporting results distribution and billing. This will enable the team to track patient flow, collect data for reporting and follow up care.