FMOL Health is helping those who can’t easily get to a clinic to get screened for breast cancer by unveiling its new mobile mammography unit. Dr. Chris Funes, the medical director for ambulatory quality for FMOL Health, says it will help increase the availability for this essential preventative screening.
“It’s going to give us the opportunity to extend our services to people who, just in the past, haven’t been able to get this potentially lifesaving screening,” Funes noted.
Dr. Funes says this mobile mammography unit was designed specifically with rural and underserved areas in mind.
“For some folks, traveling 45 minutes to an imaging center or to a hospital to get their mammography just isn’t practical. They can’t afford to be away from work, they can’t afford to leave a loved one that they’re caring for; so we need to come to them,” Funes said.
The unit is launching its maiden voyage in its Our Lady of the Lake service community, from Baton Rouge to the Northshore. Later, it will visit Acadiana and North Louisiana. Funes says screenings are by appointment.
“We have a list of patients that we’re trying to reach; a lot of those in those rural and underserved areas throughout the state who are existing patients, and just that we have not, for whatever reason, been able to get them screened,” Funes explained.
The mobile mammography unit is equipped with everything that a brick-and-mortar clinic has, and appointments take the same length of time.