Nov. 15 marks the 16th year of operation for Woman’s first digital mammography coach. The coach, nicknamed Bessie, has provided life-saving screenings to more than 39,000 women in 32 parishes and has diagnosed more than 320 breast cancers.
Woman’s mobile mammography program increases women’s accessibility to mammograms by bringing screenings to churches, workplaces, grocery stores, and community centers in parishes across the state. Through Bessie, Woman’s employees can provide essential services to those who need it most.
We are incredibly proud of our mobile mammography program and the many lives it has touched," said Glenn Augustine, director of imaging services at Woman's. "It has taken dedication from many on our team throughout the years to maintain and grow this life-saving program for communities across the state."
Woman’s began its mobile program in 1995 following a study that indicated women in Louisiana could not access mammography screening. At the time, many parishes had no mammography providers. The program started with two vans containing mammography units that were taken into physicians’ offices, local health units, and around the community.
The Woman’s Hospital mammography coach schedule can be found online at womans.org/mammography. Women can also contact (225) 341-1288 to schedule an appointment at a convenient location.