You might do a double take if you are out and about in Bartholomew County. Patricia and Pamela, local twins, are side by side enjoying life in retirement. Hope natives, they both found their way to Indianapolis in their adult years working for the organization formerly known as IUPUI – Pam in the engineering technology department and Pat in tourism management department. They were often seen on campus side by side at lunch or traveling to and from work together.
No matter where they are, people recognize the twins because they share an obvious resemblance to each other and they have a presence about them that is magnetic. Whether they are traveling and someone from IUPUI notices them or sitting in a waiting room and a high school friend recognizes them from thirty years ago, they are quick to elicit smiles and old memories of their time together.
When it comes to receiving care, Pat and Pam make the short drive from Hope to Columbus and choose the Breast Health Center at Columbus Regional Health to receive their annual mammograms. A few years ago the sisters met Nisha, mammography technologist in the Breast Health Center, who happens to also have a set of twins, a son and daughter. Through their twin stories, Pat and Pam share their twin bond and ask for Nisha each year when it is time for their mammograms.
The sisters found an updated Breast Health Center when they were here for their annual mammograms this summer. The facility recently underwent a facelift with new wallpaper and flooring. More importantly, the mammography technology received an upgrade. The three FujiFilm ASPIRE Cristalle units offer state-of-the-art imaging with patient comfort in mind. The improved images make detecting and diagnosing breast cancer easier for patients, staff, and radiologists.
The Cristalle 3D mammography unit offers better digital breast images, reduces pressure on the breast using updated compression techniques, and now patients don’t have to hold their breath during the scanning process. All this means a better patient experience. The sisters finish each other's thoughts and together they mentioned, “We appreciate the fast imaging results. We can each go into our MyChart account right after our test and see what the results are quickly, giving us peace of mind.”
Behind the scenes, it takes teamwork and coordination to ensure test results are ready quickly. The FujiFilm software that powers the mammography technology uses AI-aided scanning capabilities to ensure images with suspicious findings are at the top of the radiology reading list. This means Dr. Dwenger and Dr. Watson, the Breast Health Center’s radiologists, can review images that might need additional diagnostic testing first. The AI-aided technology doesn’t replace the expertise of our radiologists, but helps highlight areas of concern to help our medical team diagnose possible signs of breast cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends annual mammograms for women 40 years old and older. You can schedule a mammogram at the Breast Health Center by going to crh.org/mammogram or call 812-376-5064. You can also request an appointment through your MyChart account.