Breast Care
As a woman, you take care of everyone’s needs—sometimes forgetting your own. Let RMH Women’s Health Focus take care of you. We offer digital mammography, the latest technology in women’s healthcare.
Digital mammography has been shown to produce more beneficial results for:
- Women with dense breast tissue
- Women under age 50
- Women who have not yet completed menopause.
Screening mammography services at Women’s Health Focus are provided in collaboration with highly-skilled and compassionate RMH mammography technologists. Our relaxed and welcoming environment is greatly appreciated by the more than 10,000 women who visit us each year for their screening mammograms. In addition to our friendly and efficient staff, our customer service includes a yearly reminder letter to schedule an appointment, a follow-up appointment confirmation letter and a follow-up report to each woman and her physician. Non-English speaking customers are provided medical interpreter services through the Blue Ridge AHEC Interpreter service.
Breast Health Navigator
It’s frightening when a woman is told she may have breast cancer. Unfortunately, that fear can be compounded by the challenges of navigating the complex sea of healthcare and coordinating appointments with the many different medical professionals involved in diagnosis and treatment.
Helping women through this process is the role of Meg Shrader, RN, BSN, a trained breast health navigator at RMH Women’s Health Focus. Meg works directly with women being diagnosed with or treated for breast cancer. She helps women and their families by guiding them through the various services involved and connecting them with appropriate resources and support.
Why get a mammogram?
One in seven women will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. A mammogram, which is an X-ray of the breast, is the best way to find cancer of the breast in its earliest stages—up to two years before it can be felt or other symptoms appear. If breast cancer is detected early, 90 percent of women can be treated successfully. In many cases, a minimally invasive surgery can be used to treat the disease when it's discovered early, often saving the breast.
The American Cancer Society recommends that women age 40 and above have a screening mammogram every one to two years, or as suggested by their physicians.
Screening mammography is one of three steps the American Cancer Society recommends for early detection of breast cancer. The other two are an annual clinical examination by a healthcare provider and optional monthly self-breast examination for women over 20 years of age.
More about mammography
A screening mammogram, which includes an X-ray of both breasts, is conducted when there are no known problems. A diagnostic mammogram is performed if there is a lump, skin discoloration, skin dimpling or other suspicious findings of the breast. Both types of mammograms are performed at Women's Health Focus, 530 Neff Avenue in Harrisonburg.
Women's Health Focus is open Monday-Friday, with appointments available as early as 7:30 a.m. and as late as 6:30 p.m. Saturday morning hours are available as well.
RMH is accredited by the American College of Radiology and certified as a provider for Medicare. RMH meets Medicare's strict quality standards, including: low doses of radiation, board-certified radiologists who maintain their expertise in mammography. Like the radiologists, mammography technologists are trained in all aspects of mammography to ensure that you have a high-quality mammogram experience.
Softer, more comfortable mammograms
Compression is an important part of a mammogram. Without proper compression, not all of the breast tissue can be seen. Women's Health Focus offers improved comfort during compression by using the softer MammoPad®, designed to reduce the pinch and pressure of mammography without compromising the quality of the image. Comments from customers include, "I won't dread my mammogram anymore. This pad makes it so much more comfortable."
Hours
Women’s Health Focus is open Monday-Friday, with appointments available as early at 7:30 a.m. and as late as 6:30 p.m. Saturday morning hours are available as well. Women can expect the procedure to last approximately 30 minutes from registration to completion of the mammogram. You may schedule your mammogram directly with RMH Women's Health Focus by calling (540) 433-4641 or (800) 277-1021.
Cost
Women's Health Focus will bill most insurances. Financial assistance is available for under-insured or uninsured women through Virginia's Every Woman's Life program.
The Mobile Mammography Van is available to come to businesses, neighborhoods, churches or other locations to provide convenient service identical in quality to that offered by RMH Women's Health Focus. Call 540-434-4641 for more information or to schedule the van to visit your location.
Links
RMHOnline.com offers additional information about breast cancer and early detection. To learn more, Click here.
The Senior Navigator Mammogram information site can be found here.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation: www.komen.org
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