Atrium Health Navicent Mobile Mammography Coach Logs Nearly 1,300 Screenings

Laura Smith was scrolling on Facebook this spring and saw a post about Atrium Health Navicent’s mobile mammography coach visiting Cochran. Smith, who serves as the county extension coordinator for Telfair County knew that many women in her community face challenges having to travel to a facility for annual screenings, so she scheduled for the mobile mammography coach to visit the community in May.

That visit has grown to help even more women as the mobile mammography coach now visits Telfair County monthly.

Due for her own screening, Smith got a mammogram during one of this year’s monthly visits.

“It was hands down one of the best mammogram experiences I’ve ever had,” she said. “They were very knowledgeable, very good at making you comfortable and talking you through everything to let you know what’s coming.”

Atrium Health Navicent’s Mobile mammography coach started traveling throughout central and south Georgia in January and has completed nearly 1,300 screenings. Funded by a congressional spending allocation, the 36-foot vehicle has brought life-changing cancer screenings not only to patients living in rural areas, but also to workplaces, churches, schools, community centers and community events.

Women who visit the mobile mammography coach receive a screening from a state-of-the-art, 3D digital breast imaging system that’s staffed by female technologists who are specially trained in screening mammography. The experience lasts approximately 20 minutes and is similar to a physician’s appointment. Each screening is provided in a comfortable and private environment.

Typically, mobile mammogram results will be returned within about two business days. If additional screening is needed, patients will be scheduled promptly for a follow-up appointment.

“It’s vitally important that we do all we can to help more women receive life-changing screening services,” said Atrium Health Georgia Market President Delvecchio Finley. “Atrium Health Navicent’s mobile mammography coach has allowed us to detect more cancers early when they’re easier to treat and outcomes are more favorable, making a real impact on women’s health.”

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer among American women. It’s recommended that all women have a baseline screening mammogram at age 40, and in some cases, women between the ages of 35 and 39 may also need a baseline mammogram.

“With greater access to mammograms, breast cancer doesn’t have to be a death sentence,” said Dr. Rogerio Lilenbaum, Atrium Health Navicent Cancer Service Line leader. “While new therapies have greatly improved treatment, early detection is our most powerful tool in the fight against what can be a very deadly disease.”

Here's where to find Atrium Health Navicent’s mobile mammography coach in a community near you:

• Oct. 22 from 9 a.m. to noon, at 91 Telfair Ave, McRae
• Oct. 23 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Atrium Health Navicent Primary Care Internal Medicine Baldwin, 2803 N. Columbia St., Milledgeville
• Oct. 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Union Grove Missionary Baptist Church, 809 S. Davis Drive, Warner Robins
• Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Monticello Baptist Church, 334 W. Greene St., Monticello
• Nov. 8 from noon to 3 p.m., Union Baptist Church, 1137 Kitchens Street, Macon
• Nov. 15 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 200 Vineville Street, Fort Valley
• Nov. 18 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Houston County Health Department, 98 Walker Cohen Drive, Warner Robins
• Nov. 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Telfair County Health Department, 91 Telfair Ave., McRae
• Nov. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Wilkinson County Health Department, 123 High Hill St., Irwinton

Businesses and organizations interested in scheduling a visit by the Atrium Health Navicent mobile mammography coach are asked to call 478-633-2003.