From 3D Mammograms to Surgeries – The Technology is Incredible!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and that heightened awareness often functions as a reminder for women to receive their annual mammogram. The good news for today’s women is that our technology for mammograms is truly impressive.
At Montrose Regional Health, we invested in Siemens Wide-Angle True Breast Tomosynthesis technology. This technology moves in a 50-degree arc around the breast – taking 25 different images during the exam! Computers are able to assemble that data into a 3D picture of the breast, delivering a clearer image with no place for cancer to hide. This wasn’t the case with traditional 2D mammography. When looking at upgrading our technology, Medical Imaging Director Bodie Blowers noted that True Breast Tomosynthesis was a clear winner.
Montrose Regional Health has a history of investing in technology for the health of our communities. In 2009, MRH was the first hospital on the Western Slope to acquire the daVinci Surgical System. This robotic-assisted surgical system is controlled by the surgeon, who performs a minimally-invasive surgery through tiny incisions. While this might sound limiting for the surgeon, it’s actually not: the technology enhances surgeons’ capabilities by allowing an increased range of motion and a high-definition 3D view of the inside of the body cavity.
In 2019, our hospital made Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery available for our patients. This technology transforms the way total knee replacements are formed – using CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, allowing surgeons to create a personalized surgical plan specific to each patient’s unique anatomy. We all know “one size fits all” is the wrong approach to health care – how great is it to live in a time where even your knee replacement can be customized for your specific shape?
Last year, we opened the Montrose Lung & Sleep Center – another example of how we are moving care forward for our region! Dr. Andrew Hersh and team performed Montrose’s first ever Navigational Bronchoscopy. This procedure allows us to detect lung cancer early – crucial in the fight against lung cancer. Our Montrose Lung & Sleep Center continues to offer services for people who would previously have to be referred as far away as Denver!
All of this technology is remarkable – at times, even awe-inspiring. But what makes it even more valuable is our team of caregivers who operate it: highly skilled individuals who are truly dedicated to our patients. Our tagline, Caring for you like family, isn’t just a motto – it is in our DNA. We talk about it often, and our patients feel it: we know from the grateful patient letters we receive. While patients sometimes get lost in large healthcare systems, our patients know they aren’t mere numbers on a page here in Montrose. When you choose us for your surgery or mammogram, know you are in good hands of caring people who want to help you with the best technology available.
Brad Wiersma, Marketing Director, Montrose Regional Health