Regular mammograms are the best way to detect breast cancer early and save lives. It is now recommended that women aged 40 and over undergo mammogram testing annually. Breast cancer screening is important to detect any abnormal lumps that may not be found with manual self-exams.
Mobile medical vehicles can bring life-saving tests and treatments directly to members of the public. Mobile mammography clinics may reach people who struggle to access preventative healthcare and can even be less costly to both patients and providers.
A mammogram is a medical imaging test that uses an X-ray system to look inside the breasts. This X-ray exam utilizes plastic plates to flatten the breasts, holding them in place so that internal images can be taken. A doctor then examines the images for any signs of breast cancer, tumors, or cysts. Mammogram testing has been used for decades and has significantly decreased the mortality rate for women who end up being diagnosed with breast cancer.
Many obstacles can hinder people from accessing preventative healthcare. Medical vehicles such as mobile mammography clinics may better reach medically underserved populations such as those living in immigrant communities and urban areas.
People in lower socioeconomic communities, most especially women, and even more so immigrant women, balance work, childcare, transportation issues, and even language barriers. Having to figure out who will watch their children, how to get to a hospital or clinic, and when to fit their health into their busy schedules will keep many people from seeking preventative services. A mobile clinic that visits close to home and offers more flexible hours could make mammography screenings much more accessible to everyone.
The costs of setting up, equipping, and running a medical vehicle versus a traditional medical clinic are far lower. While keeping operating costs low, mobile mammography clinics can also generate high revenue for the provider. When a screening comes back positive, the vast majority of patients will continue to come back to the clinic that originally provided their screening.
Mobile testing clinics also bring in higher revenue as they can reach more patients. Being mobile increases a hospital or clinic's patient base. With more patients able to keep up with regular screenings, a mammography clinic generates a lot of repeat testing and screening services.
Bringing preventative healthcare to an underserved community helps to build a positive relationship with that population. When starting a mobile clinic, it may be beneficial to reach out to community organizations, churches, and employers in the area before opening up for business.
Partnering with leaders in the community can keep medical practitioners aware of the specific needs of the people within the community, allowing for tailored, high-impact care. Community partnerships also help to spread awareness of your clinic and services.
Early detection of cancer can increase the odds of successful treatment. When preventative screening is more convenient, more people get screened. Studies indicate that people in urban areas would be more likely to seek out medical testing if access was more affordable and easier to come by.
With a mobile mammography clinic, there are many opportunities to expand the patient reach that would not be possible with a traditional clinic. For example, when developing a community or company partnership, there may be the chance to offer mammography screenings at office buildings, schools, community centers, factories, libraries, and many other local locations that are easy for patients to reach. This not only serves a medically underserved population but greatly increases the number of screenings your clinic will be able to bill for.
Hospitals have the ability to create mobile screening clinics to reach patients near their homes and places of work and to then direct any further care back to the hospital itself. Hospitals that develop strong ties to community organizations and companies are able to present themselves as valuable public service providers.
When patients and community members regularly see and recognize screening vehicles and mammography clinics in their local area, they begin to trust that medical brand. Any mobile medical clinic, therefore, must be well-branded, with inviting graphics and vital information clearly outlined on the body of the vehicle.
Women who skip mammography screenings have a significantly higher chance of dying if cancer is detected. To be able to make a real medical difference in a community, all members of the population must be able to access preventative health screenings.
The use of mobile mammography clinics can make a huge difference to a community's health and allow for increased revenue and brand awareness for medical providers. With lower initial setup and operational costs, medical vehicles such as mobile mammography clinics are a win-win-win for the community, hospital or medical provider, and the patient.