A 5-Star Mammography Experience
A 5-Star Mammography Experience
When you look back on truly unforgettable experiences in your life, what comes to mind? A weekend stay at a five-star hotel? A free upgrade to first class? A six-course gourmet meal with all the trimmings?
How about a digital mammogram at Morris Hospital or the Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus in Channahon?
That’s right. Making a woman’s mammogram experience as pleasant and comfortable as a stay in a luxury hotel is a top priority for the mammography technologists at Morris Hospital, who have gone the extra mile to create a five-star experience for their patients.
It begins the moment a woman enters the mammography suites. Soft lighting, attractive wall hangings, mirrors, silk plants, upholstered chairs and pretty table lamps offer an inviting feel. And pleasant floral room scents make the exam rooms feel more like a spa than a clinical area.
“Our No. 1 goal is to put our patients at ease,” says Mammography Technologist Polly Baron, who, along with her coworkers, personally shopped for and selected the art, furniture and accents. Funding was provided by the Morris Hospital Foundation.
“Patients don’t feel as anxious if it doesn’t look or feel like they’re in a hospital or doctor’s office. We also take time to explain everything and answer any questions the patients may have. There’s never a feeling of being rushed.”
Other special touches include a warmer that gives patient gowns a “just-out-of-the-clothes-dryer” feeling of warmth; and soft, MammoPad foam cushions that ensure a more comfortable experience.
After the exam, patients receive a mint candy and deodorant packets for freshening up.
“Patients tell us they really appreciate our special touches and feel more at ease,” Baron adds. “Comfort is important during a mammogram. When our patients are more relaxed, we’re able to get the best possible images.”
In addition to all the comfort measures, women who have their mammogram at Morris Hospital or the Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus can feel good about their experience for another important reason – they can count on having their exam performed with the latest digital technology every time.
Digital mammography uses a special detector to capture and convert X-ray energy into a digital image that can be displayed on a computer, instead of on film. That means radiologists can view and manipulate the images on high-resolution computer monitors that improve visualization of the breast tissue. They can also adjust brightness and contrast, and zoom in on specific areas to help detect small calcifications, masses and other changes that may be signs of early cancer.
Morris Hospital also uses Computer-Aided Detection (CAD), which flags potential abnormalities, further assisting the radiologist in making a diagnosis.
To schedule a mammogram at Morris Hospital or the Morris Hospital Ridge Road Campus in Channahon, call 815.941.4105. A physician’s referral is required.
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