HCHC pursuing technology to improve mammography

By BRYCE KELLY

Mt. Pleasant News

According to Todd Steenblock, director of radiology at HCHC, the health center is in the process of updating their mammography examinations to include a new type of breast mammography called tomosynthesis that will provide a more comprehensive breast examination.

Performed with enhanced digital mammography using the same scanner as a typical mammogram machine, breast tomosynthesis (or tomo for short) takes multiple images of the entire breast, which allows radiologists to see through layers of tissue and examine areas of concern from all angles.

?This new process, once we initiate it, will be standard for all patients (receiving mammography exams),? explained Steenblock as he spoke about the upcoming addition at Tuesday?s HCHC Board of Trustees meeting. ?The method in which the examinations are performed will still be the same as a typical mammogram.?

A typical mammogram only takes roughly two images per breast. Breast tomo will take about 13 images per breast, giving radiologists a way to detect breast cancer earlier and gain a better understanding of the size, shape, and location of any abnormalities. In addition, breast tomo will give better images of dense breast tissue.

For HCHC?s radiology department, the upgrade will be completely digitized, which Steenblock says should make the process quick and efficient once it goes into effect possibly next year.

Besides an update from Steenblock, the board also discussed its recent collaboration with Hillcrest Family Services. HCHC has now officially signed on to work with Hillcrest to provide a crisis intervention team that will help to facilitate mental health intervention services as needed in HCHC?s emergency room.

This program will staff on-call, part-time crisis mental health assessment professionals Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. They are meant to work in conjunction with emergency room physicians to provide the best possible discharge disposition for a patient admitted to the ER that is experiencing mental health issues.

?We are excited to see the positive things that can happen through this program,? said HCHC CEO Robb Gardner. ?In programs very similar to the one we are embarking on now, roughly 75 percent of patients assessed have been cleared to return home with a 24 to 48-hour follow-up, versus being placed in acute psychiatric care.?

According to Gardner, if a patient were to be admitted to the ER and is in need of a mental health assessment during hours other than the regular 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday hours, the working ER physician at the time would assess the patient and admit them for an overnight stay if needed until a follow-up assessment could be made by a crisis mental health assessment professional.

?We understand that folks in need of these types of services don?t always come to the ER between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. on a Monday through Friday basis, but that?s where we are going to start,? said HCHC?s chief nursing officer, Jodi Geerts. ?Hopefully, we can expand the hours of coverage as we move forward with the program.?

The other major news discussed during the board meeting included a short update from Geerts about statewide flu activity.

?Flu activity is starting to decline, which is very good,? said Geerts.

According to Geerts, seasonal flu activity typically peaks during the months of January and February, and then begins to slowly decline.

Geerts was also happy to report that not a single case of measles has been reported at HCHC.

The next HCHC Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 21 at noon, in the HCHC Board Room.