On February 15, 2012 Houlton Regional Hospital celebrated the first digital mammography performed at HRH with its new GE Full Field Digital Mammography System. A yearlong campaign of fundraising from HRH staff, as well as funds received from the Health Service Foundation, brought this vision and need of the community to reality. The Digital Mammography Equipment replaced Sophie, purchased in 2001 with funds provided again by the Health Service Foundation.
Nancy Putnam, Nurse Practitioner with Houlton Family Practice, comments “Women from this area have been waiting for this method of screening for breast cancer for a long time. Women were requesting referrals to other facilities, which provided digital mammography. Since HRH now has digital screening, I make fewer referrals to out-of-town facilities. Digital mammography makes patients feel safer, and I am happy to have this capability available here in Houlton. It is a good thing.”
Dr. Joseph Mack, Radiologist at Houlton Regional Hospital explains that digital mammography is more sensitive than conventional mammography and uses less radiation. In addition, because the images are stored digitally on a computer, the data can be manipulated to clarify the image. All mammograms are obtained digitally at Houlton Regional Hospital.
Due to the increased use of mammography most women in the United States are diagnosed at an early stage of breast cancer, before symptoms appear. However, not all breast cancers are found through mammography. The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. Here are the warning signs to be aware of:
• Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area;
• Change in the size or shape of the breast;
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple;
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast;
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin; and/or
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast.
Doing self-exams and making screening appointments will also help to saves lives.
The Mammography Journey
In 1977 the 35-year journey to digital imaging began.
Houlton Regional Hospital’s first mammography unit was manufactured by Xerox and acquired by the hospital in 1977. It was a huge machine that used blue and white paper film. A patient would sit at a table first, then onto an X-ray table to build them up with sponges and given that scenario, it was indeed difficult to keep them in the same position, however it was top-of-the-line back then, but much harder and took a lot longer.
The Foundation begins its mission to assist in mammography healthcare
Fast forward 24 years to October 31, 2001.
“In 2001 Foundation Trustees met and agreed to pursue a campaign of $75,000 to purchase state-of-the-art mammography equipment named Sophie. Sophie provided superb imaging with various speed compression levels, desired degree of rotation, and auto-release after exposure for patient comfort and was certainly a huge step up from the 1977 Xerox model.
It was an easy decision for trustees to make, as bringing that equipment to the local area was exciting,” said Elizabeth Dulin Foundation Executive Director.
Now fast forward another 10 years to 2011.
“In the journey to provide the best possible equipment for the early detection of breast cancer, the Foundation again voted to bring state-of-the-art digital mammography to Houlton Regional, and was a second easy decision to make regarding this important healthcare issue. It was vitally important that the Foundation assist the hospital to stay ahead with the latest technology and bring digital screening to Houlton.
The GE Senographe Care Full-Field Digital Mammography System ensures superior detection capabilities of abnormalities at an earlier stage thus providing patients with optimum treatment options if needed. We were only able to accomplish bringing this equipment to our area with the assistance of the hospital’s in-house employee fund drive and the generosity of all our supporters.
Also our high-risk patients, and others requiring digital screening in the past, no longer have to face the issue of having to drive to another facility, they can stay right here at home and get the services they need,” Dulin said.
Foundation to celebrate year of 30th Anniversary
“The Foundation has been fundraising for local non-profit healthcare providers since 1983 and October 1, 2012 will begin a year of celebrating 30 years in support of equipment, education, and capital needs, to the best of our financial ability, to all those we serve. To date disbursements for providers have topped the $2 million dollar mark at $2,087,750.21, and our efforts over the years have been truly rewarding knowing the positive impacts we have had on our communities.
We look forward, once again, to helping our area healthcare providers, and will be conducting a current campaign for several specific important needs that have been presented to us by Houlton Regional Hospital.
Follow us through this upcoming fundraising year to see all the great things we will be doing to help our hospital and hope everyone will become involved, to the best of their ability, and help us have a successful outcome to our fundraising goal. “We cannot do it without you, and we do it for you,” Dulin concluded.
The Foundation’s mission of “Supporting Excellence in Healthcare” is a passion that never wavers even when economic times can make things more difficult to achieve. Healthcare is of paramount importance in everyone’s lives and without Foundation’s such as ours, providers would find it far more difficult to attain some of the equipment, or offer programs genuinely needed for their communities.
Anyone wishing further information about Foundation projects/programs please call our office at 207-521-2147 or visit the website at www.healthservicesfoundation.org — we will be happy to assist you.
