Milford Walmart to pilot breast cancer screening service

To expand breast cancer screening, RadNet, a national radiology company, will launch an automated screening unit that utilizes artificial intelligence in an 18-month pilot program Friday at the Walmart in Milford. 
For an 18-month pilot program, MammogramNow will launch this Friday at the Walmart Supercenter in Milford. | PHOTO COURTESY OF RADNET

MILFORD – To expand breast cancer screening, RadNet, a national radiology company, will launch a screening unit that can utilize artificial intelligence in an 18-month pilot program Friday at the Walmart in Milford. 

RadNet and Delaware Imaging Network (DIN) have collaborated to launch MammogramNow, a breast cancer screening technology, that will complete walk-in or scheduled mammograms in 15 minutes. The long-term goal of the program is to provide same-day results. Patients can also opt-in for Enhanced Breast Cancer Detection which incorporates artificial intelligence for disease detection for an out-of-pocket cost.

“Women are so busy with careers and caretaking, with about 42% reporting that they are burned out. We want to make this crucial appointment as easy as possible, so that women can fit this life-saving exam into their schedules,” Dr. Jacqueline Holt, medical director of Women’s Imaging at Delaware Imaging Network, told Delaware Business Times. “This level of convenience empowers women to finally take care of themselves. Mammograms save women’s lives, and that’s why we’re bringing it right into the community at Walmart.”

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The mammogram will gently compress the breast four times for 3.7 seconds and take about 15 minutes to complete. | PHOTO COURTESY OF RADNET

In partnership with Walmart, RadNet is launching a pilot program to make breast cancer screening more accessible, primarily due to the fact that 90% of Americans live within 10 miles of a Walmart. Over the 18-month program, RadNet will raise breast health awareness and may expand MammogramNow to additional locations. 

The American Cancer Society reports there is a one in eight chance a woman will develop breast cancer. The society recommends that women between the ages of 45 to 54 should be screened for breast cancer every year. Women 55 years old and older should switch to mammograms every two years or continue yearly screening. The detection of one of the most common types of cancer in its early stages has a 99% survival rate.

MammogramNow is covered by most insurances as part of the annual mammogram screening for individuals over 40 years old. For those without insurance, RadNet states that there will be an affordable out-of-pocket charge for the screening. 

“With MammogramNow, we are endeavoring to improve population health and encourage preventative care. RadNet currently performs close to 5% of all mammograms in the United States annually, and the pilot with Walmart is designed to provide even greater, convenient access for women, driving better compliance with annual breast cancer screening guidelines,” RadNet President & CEO Dr. Howard Berger said in a statement. “Our ability to offer leading-edge hardware, software, and AI technologies in a non-traditional health care location, such as a highly-trafficked retail location like a Walmart Supercenter, could become a new paradigm for the future of consumer healthcare and preventative medicine.”

 

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