Whether she is the mother of your children, the woman who gave you life, or a “mom-like” mentor, this weekend we are celebrating the leading ladies of our lives. Your mother figure has always put you, and others, ahead of her. She has been there for you when you needed her most, and has supported you in every endeavor. This year, give back and empower your mother to take care of herself. This Mother’s Day, give the gift of awareness.
Most care providers believe that early detection tests for breast cancer can save thousands of lives each year. According to the United States Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF), women between the ages of fifty and seventy-four should get a mammogram every two years. Women under the age of fifty should speak with their care provider to discuss family history in order to determine when and how often to receive these preventative tests. Here is a general fact sheet to share with the important ladies in your life.
Being in the imaging business, we have an interesting perspective on mammography and would like to share some less commonly discussed concepts that tie into preventative testing.
Having the ability to easily access prior x-rays is essential to early detection. When a radiologist examines a mammogram, he/she is looking for changes in breast tissue. Without previous imaging work, it is difficult to tell if abnormalities are part of a woman’s natural anatomy, or if they are stemming from another cause. Easy access to priors will prevent unnecessary, additional testing.
The inability to access a mammogram test may result in the need for the patient to retake the image. This means more time, money, frustration, and radiation exposure for the woman involved. Even she brings in a CD containing her mammogram, unreadable or poor quality may result in unnecessary and additional imaging work. Online image transfer is a great solution to this potential problem.
With mammograms, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion. False positives, missed abnormalities, and detected changes in breast tissue are all legitimate reasons to seek the guidance of an additional care provider. In order to do this, you need the ability to easily send images to other, out-of-network doctors.
All of the aforementioned concepts require a cloud-based image transfer. According to a recent study published by the University of Utah, this technology allows the radiologist to receive imaging exams five days sooner. When waiting for the results of a mammogram, five days can feel like a lifetime for anxious patients.
This Mother’s Day, look at DICOM Grid’s cloud-based solution to help ease some of the burden for the women in your life.
Catherine Slotnick is a passionate healthcare marketer with a deep interest in the latest & greatest in the Health IT space. As Ambra Health's marketing manager, Catherine primarily focuses on creating and sharing thought leadership content in the radiology and informatics space. Catherine graduated from the University of Virginia with a BA in Psychology & Art History. When she's not writing, she enjoys cooking and petting dogs that aren't hers.
