Foundation Purchases Digital Mammography for Berger

Circleville, OH – March 8, 2010 –Women will have greater access to high-tech digital mammograms in Pickaway County thanks to the Berger Health Foundation.

The Foundation recently approved the purchase of a new digital mammography unit for Berger Health System, which will be installed at Berger’s Women’s Health Center, located at 1434 Circleville Plaza Drive near Wal-Mart. 

Pictured above from left to right are Todd Stevens, Foundation Treasurer; Will Thomaschek, Berger Health System Director of Support Services; Katrina Robinson, Berger Health System Mammographer; and Michelle Bone-Minor, Berger Health System Diagnostic Imaging Manager.  They are pictured in front of the current machine that will be replaced at the Circleville Plaza location.

In addition, the Foundation made the commitment to launch a fundraising campaign to fund a second digital mammography unit, which will be installed at Berger Hospital’s main campus.

“Digital mammography is just one example of how rapidly healthcare technology is changing,” said Tim Colburn, Berger Health System President & CEO. “The benefits of digital mammography versus traditional mammography are significant, and we want our patients to have the best.”

Digital technology, on average, lowers a patient’s radiation dose compared to a traditional mammogram and provides clearer pictures, especially for women with dense breast tissue. In addition, exam times are shorter and the digital process offers the ability to correct under- or over-exposed pictures without having to repeat the procedure.

“The Foundation is extremely pleased to partner with Berger Health System to expand digital mammography availability to local patients,” said Larry Halm, Berger Health Foundation Executive Director. “Almost everyone knows someone whose life has been touched by breast cancer. The disease has no social or economic boundaries.”

Early detection is the key to effective breast cancer treatment. “We understand the demands of women’s busy schedules, so we want to make mammogram screenings as simple as possible,” added Colburn. “The addition of two digital mammography machines will truly benefit our patients – both with convenience and the highest possible technology available.”

Pictured from left to right are Larry Halm, Berger Health Foundation Executive Director; and Tim Colburn, Berger Health System President & CEO.  They are pictured in front of the current machine that will be replaced at the Circleville Plaza location.

Women can have mammogram screenings at three Berger locations: the main hospital, the Women’s Health Center, and the Berger Medical Center near Commercial Point, which currently has a digital mammography machine.

To schedule a mammogram at Berger, call 474-7701.