12/08/2011
Mammography Dept Passes FDA Inspection
The mammography department of RAMC passed a recent FDA inspection. The inspection is done annually and is required under the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). Mammography departments are also accredited by the ACR (American College of Radiology) every three years.
RAMC has a full field digital mammography unit which provides quality exams and a very low dose of radiation. The mammographers at RAMC are all registered technologists with advanced certification in mammography. The technologists that perform mammograms at RAMC are Laurelynn Brey, Adrianne Clark, Sharon Cramblit, Erin Lee, Ellen Penshorn, and Cheryl Rhodes. Screening mammograms are performed Monday through Friday 9a.m. to 3:30p.m. and additional hours are available for screening mammograms on Thursday from 4-6p.m. An order from your healthcare provider is needed for this exam and we encourage the clinical breast exam to be performed prior to the mammogram.
Mammograms remain the best screening tool for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society recommendations are:
Yearly mammograms are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health
Clinical breast exam (CBE) about every 3 years for women in their 20s and 30s and every year for women 40 and over
Women should know how their breasts normally look and feel and report any breast change promptly to their health care provider. Breast self-exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.
If you have additional risk factors mammograms may be recommended earlier than age 40. It’s always best to go over your medical history with your healthcare provider to determine what is the best for you.
The Wisconsin Well Woman Program is available to assist in paying for mammograms and other screening exams for women. The criteria are:
You must be a woman age 45 through 64, and
Your income is within the program's guideline limits (250% above federal poverty level) and
You do not have health insurance, or the insurance you have doesn’t cover routine check-ups and screening, or you are unable to pay the deductible or co-payment.
If you have any questions about this program Jennifer Froh can be contacted at the Juneau County Courthouse at 608-847-9373.