Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013 - 54

Community Health Innovations

Going the Distance for
Breast Health
Thomas D. Brown,
MD

Mobile mammography allows more women
to be screened, increases early detection.

Nearly a decade ago, Swedish Health
Services made an organizational
commitment to improving access to
potentially life-saving mammography
services by harnessing advanced technology—and adding wheels. Mobile
mammography in Seattle began in
1987, when an altruistic individual
put a mammography unit in an old
horse trailer, hooked up the trailer to
her vehicle and traversed the area
offering women an opportunity to be
screened. Following a series of acquisitions, Swedish formally assumed
responsibility for the program in May
2004, naming it Breast Care Express.
It was the first program of its kind in
the Seattle area, addressing the needs
of both inner-city and rural residents.

Offering access to this critical
screening via a
mammography clinic of the
same caliber—albeit on
wheels—has been a requisite
factor as the program has
grown and evolved.
Expanding on Existing
Mammography Services
The goal for Breast Care Express
was evident from the beginning:

Healthcare Executive
SEpT/OCT 2013

leverage advanced technology, garner philanthropic support for the
program, and build community and
corporate partnerships to reach out
to women throughout the greater
Seattle area.
Swedish operates seven brick and mortar mammography locations. The
Swedish Breast Centers offer full-field
digital screening and diagnostic mammography, computer-aided detection,
dedicated breast ultrasound and minimally invasive procedures using ultrasound or stereotactic guidance.
Each facility has met criteria set forth
by the American College of
Radiology to be designated as a
Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.
Therefore, offering access to this critical screening via a mammography
clinic of the same caliber—albeit on
wheels—has been a requisite factor as
the program has grown and evolved.
In 2004, Swedish launched its first
mobile mammography clinic—a fullservice, self-contained, 64-foot coach.
When demand outstripped capacity
and sites that could not accommodate the large coach requested service, Swedish added a 34-foot coach.
Both trailers were outfitted by a local
provider and closely resemble

landlocked clinics. They use digital
mammography equipment, their registered radiology technologists have
advanced credentials in mammography and board-certified radiologists
specializing exclusively in breast
imaging read all mammograms.
They have separate areas for waiting
and patient education, changing and
examinations. Both coaches are
equipped with 3G communications
systems with wireless bridging that
allow secure transmission of images
for reading at Swedish. The larger
coach also has satellite communication capabilities.
Breast Care Express gives women
access to the same level of expertise,
personal privacy and exceptional
quality they would have at any facility-based clinic.
A Business Model That Works
The key to making mobile mammography a viable program is its
diversified business model, which
allows Swedish to operate Breast
Care Express in a fiscally responsible way. Its success can be attributed to solid partnerships between
Swedish and local corporations and
agencies, as well as incredible philanthropic support.
Women lead busy lives, often putting their needs behind those of
their families. Corporations focusing on productivity have come to
realize that finding ways to support
their employees’ healthcare needs
can be mutually advantageous. In
general, women who leave work for
a mammogram clinic appointment
will miss half a day. A company
that schedules a mobile mammography screening event can expect

Healthcare Executive - September/October 2013

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