Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center hosted a public tour and ribbon cutting Wednesday, Feb. 25, of its new Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS) suite, an expansion aimed at enhancing women’s health services.
Hospital officials said the ABUS system was purchased with assistance from the NMRMC Foundation and a grant from the Patterson Family Foundation.
Chief Executive Officer Wendy Brazil said ABUS is used in conjunction with traditional mammography to provide more detailed imaging, particularly for women with dense breast tissue. The system uses high-resolution, three-dimensional ultrasound to detect abnormalities that may not appear on standard mammograms. Brazil said it is the only ABUS unit currently available locally.
During the Night Out for Wellness event last fall, Dr. Jeniffer Higgans highlighted the ABUS machine and noted that regular screenings are important. Mammograms are recommended for women starting at age 40, up until age 75. Higgins noted that those with a family medical history of breast cancer — specifically those who may have the BRCA gene — should consider early testing, at least 10 years prior to the age at which a relative was when diagnosed.
During the Night Out for Wellness, Dr. Matthew Leroy said the following of the ABUS: “It’s really cutting edge. It is the top quality screening tool for finding breast cancers early, and that’s the key. We want to find them as early as we can, so we can treat them as quickly as we can.”
Wednesday’s event included tours of the new suite, opportunities to meet staff, and refreshments. Officials said the addition reflects the hospital’s ongoing commitment to offering advanced, comprehensive breast care to the community.
For more information about Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center, visit www. nmrmc.com.
