Spalding Regional Medical Center has announced plans to expand the Women’s Center service offerings to include women’s imaging and diagnostic services. The new department will be located inside the Women’s Center lobby on the back side of the hospital, which offers convenient parking and easy access for patients to get to the services.

For the new department, Spalding Regional is purchasing two new, state-of-the-art Selenia^™ digital mammography units and computer-aided detection system from Hologic^® .

Spalding Regional Medical Center will be the first healthcare provider in the area to feature the advanced technology of digital mammography. For the patient, a digital mammogram is conducted in the same manner as traditional film mammography. However, with digital mammography, the image is immediately available to radiologists for diagnosis, and can be magnified and digitally enhanced to see certain areas more clearly. Digital mammography will also shorten the procedure time for patients and since there is no waiting for film to be developed, the technician will immediately know if any additional images are needed.

In conjunction with the digital mammography unit, Spalding Regional Medical Center is also purchasing a computer-aided detection system. This system highlights characteristics commonly associated with breast cancer and flags abnormalities to help the radiologist detect early breast cancer.

“We are excited to provide women in our community with the latest mammography technology available and to create a convenient location for women to access imaging and diagnostic services at our hospital,” said Chris Locke, Chief Operating Officer, Spalding Regional Medical Center. “This project is another example of our commitment to bringing state-of-the-art technology and services to our community.”

Construction on the project is underway and the new equipment has been purchased. The new department will open and begin accepting patients for digital mammography by early 2009. Plans are also being finalized to relocate the hospital’s bone density, ultrasound and breast biopsy services to the Women’s Center later in 2009.