Kenmore Mercy Receives Mammography Accreditation While Hospital Resumes Screenings
In April, Kenmore Mercy Hospital’s mammography service was accredited by the American College of Radiology (ACR). ACR accreditation is only given to facilities that meet the highest standards of image quality and patient safety following a rigorous review by the organization’s team of radiology experts.
It was at this same time, Kenmore Mercy suspended many elective surgical and outpatient procedures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including mammography screenings. Kenmore Mercy is pleased to share that mammography services recent resumed.
“It’s understandable when a patient tells me they are hesitant to come into the hospital,” said Dr. Richard Kessler, Chief of Radiology at Kenmore Mercy Hospital. “But people need to know we have worked hard to ensure a safe and comfortable environment, while continuing to offer the highest quality mammography services as evidenced by our recent accreditation.”
Safely Resuming Mammography Services
Because mammography is up close and personal, the hospital and imaging team have introduced enhanced cleaning and safety protocols to protect patients before, during and after each appointment. Advance appointments are now being scheduled farther apart to provide additional time for cleaning exam rooms and equipment after each patient. All patients must complete a health screening and temperature check when they enter the hospital, and will be required to wear masks at all times and wash their hands before each screening. All waiting rooms will have socially-distant seating.
“For low-risk patients, postponing their annual screening by month or two is not considered a serious risk,” Dr. Kessler adds. “However, breast cancer never takes a break, regardless of what else is going on in the world, so regular mammograms, remain an important screening tool.”
Getting mammograms at the recommended intervals can help diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages. Studies have shown that having annual mammograms, beginning at age 40, reduces your risk of breast cancer death by 40%. Kenmore Mercy Hospital has been offering digital mammography since 2012 to provide enhanced imaging capabilities.
Call (716) 447-6111 for more information and/or to make an appointment.
