BISBEE -- Copper Queen Community Hospital is upgrading its diagnostic services with the addition of a new digital mammography unit, replacing the analogue system, to ethance our Women’s Wellness services and otTer an important resource to local residents, said Jim Dickson, Hospital CEO.

Digital Mammography Tech Ingrid Ortman shows off the new machine at Copper Queen Community Hospital. A mobile unit offering digital mammography and bone density scanning will be in Douglas monthly.

Breast cancer and Osteoporosis are two major diseases that affect women as they mature,” Dickson explained. Through the new digital mammography equipment and the DEXA scan for bone density, CQCH will assist women to a healthier friture.”

Dickson added that rural women have a higher mortality rate ofbreast cancer because they don’t have access to affordable mammograrn screenings. CQCH’s mission is very clear:

We want to offer every woman in our area access to this life-saving screening.

The Copper Queen Community Hospital’s Selenia V Digital System offers improved screening process and diagnostic services. The new digital equipment allows CQCH to perform “soft “mammography giving patients a more comfortable screening by using specialized pads to cover the plates. This will also reduce the amount of radiation each patient receives from screening.

The mammograms will be read by on site radiologists, Dr. Steven Walsh and Dr. David Klein, who will provide the highest quality readings and attentive follow-up on test results, Dickson said. These services are part of our Women’s Wellness program, which includes coordination with Tucson referral sources for specialized care if cancer is detected.

In addition to the permanent digital mammography unit at CQCH, a mobile mammography and bone density screening unit are serving the Douglas and Palominas communities monthly. The DEXA test (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) is the industry standard providing a safe and non-invasive use of x-ray technology to measure bone mineral loss.

Dickson said that their goal is to bring these services closer to whore patients live, making it more convenient for women to arrange and keep these important appointments. According to the National Cancer Institute, early detection saves lives and 96 percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years. While radiologists do not endorse one form of mammography over another, digital mammography is an important option for younger women and for women with dense breast tissue. Lower radiation exposure, both time and dosage, through the new technology, has been shown to be beneficial for all consumers.

Copper Queen Community Hospital is dedicated to enhancing the health of women in Cochise County. These new services will enhance our Woman’s Wellness Program. Sec your doctor, get a prescription for mammography and bone density testing. Call us today to make an appointment for these life saving services (520)-432-6541.