Machias – Here are a few words that rarely go together: relaxed, comfortable, and mammogram. After all, having your breasts compressed tightly between two firm surfaces while you stand there awkwardly half clothed is certainly not the most pleasant of experiences. Down East Community Hospital is now offering our patients a new option in mammograms: the Senographe Pristina™. Designed from the ground up with the input from women, it is the first mammography system to provide women with the “three Cs”: comfort, confidence, and clarity.
Even the machine itself is designed to resemble not just a piece of medical equipment, but a piece of art, with rounded edges and elegant lighting. But the design is more than just aesthetic; the gentle, rounded corners of the image receptor, where the woman places her breasts, completely changes the stance of the traditional mammogram. Instead of tensing their pectoral muscles while grabbing the traditional handgrips – which can make it hard to acquire high quality images – women can lean comfortably on the armrests, relaxing their muscles to simplify positioning, compression, and improve image quality. The image receptor is also thinner than the previous design, so it doesn’t jab into a woman’s ribs.
Poor positioning in mammography is a key factor in image problems which could require a repeat exam. The lack of proper positioning can also reduce the sensitivity of the mammogram. The design of this equipment improves the technologist’s workflow, which improves patient positioning which can lead to faster, more precise exams.
Down East Community Hospital invested in the Senographe Pristina because we know the primary reason women dread and skip screening mammograms is pain. But if women skip their screening mammogram, they could literally be putting their lives at risk. And that is why we brought the Senographe Pristina to Down East Community Hospital – because we believe that a test that could save a woman’s life shouldn’t hurt.
Photo Cutline: Susan Huber RTRM, Imaging Manager, pictured with DECH’s new Senographe Pristina™ mammography unit.