Mercy Health Partners News

            “The new Breast Center is equipped with state-of-the-art GE digital mammography devices with increased sensitivity and greater comfort for the patient,” said Crystal Dugger, Mercy’s Regional Director of Breast Services.  “Digital mammograms have been shown to provide better diagnostic accuracy especially for women less than 50 years-old, women with dense breasts, and pre/perimenopausal women.”

            “The highly-trained staff at the new center has many years of experience in handling women’s health issues, and they are using the best equipment.  The new GE Essential Senograph Digital Mammography device is the best available, FDA-approved technology.  It is equipped with larger detection surfaces that better accommodate women of different body sizes, and the detection plates are also heated for the patient’s increased comfort,” Dugger said.

            Other services available at the new Breast Center included:

·        Bone Density Tests – tests for osteoporosis by measuring the thickness of the bone and its likelihood to break

·        Breast Ultrasound Tests – used if there is an abnormality found in the breast requiring further examination.

Most insurance companies cover screening mammograms and do not require a referral.  Dugger suggests contacting your healthcare insurance provider to see what is covered under your policy.

Dugger said that the new Breast Center is part of the Mercy Comprehensive Cancer Program.  “From discovery to recovery, Mercy’s Cancer Program has skilled doctors and nurses that can guide the patient and their families through the treatment of breast cancer.”

“The program has nurse navigators to help a patient understand what is happening to their body, specialized diagnostic equipment to find the cancer and innovative treatment programs to help defeat the cancer.  Some of the specialized functions include breast MRI, minimally invasive surgeries and mammosite radiation therapy,” Dugger added.

The phone number at the new center is 637-0094.  More information is also available through the Ask Mercy physician and service referral number at 632-5200 and through the Mercy Web site at www.mercy.com.  Dugger said that other Mercy facilities with digital mammography services include St. Mary’s Medical Center North, Baptist Hospital West and the Baptist Riverside out-patient campus.

Mercy Health Partners was formed by the merger of St. Mary’s Health System and the Baptist Health System of East Tennessee in 2008.  The new healthcare system has seven acute care hospitals, 1,000 physicians and 5,700 associates in facilities across East Tennessee.

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