Director’s Cut

BY BETH ALLEN

FIRST IMPRESSION CAN CREATE LASTING IMAGE

often a successful screening mammography program is the beacon of light for an imaging practice. For many patients it is the first encounter with imaging. It is our opportunity to make an outstanding first impression. These patients are judging our centers on cleanliness, friendliness and quality. It has been shown that women are likely to make the health care decisions for the entire family. A wellrun mammography program can lead patients through all the rest of our modalities as well as into our acute care facilities for their care.

Banner Imaging currently has seven Breast Imaging Centers of Excellence as well as several other sites offering mammography. Women’s imaging is complicated for many reasons. We have looked for ways to make our process quality driven and efficient, as well as compassionate and empathetic. Even women coming for their annual mammogram have that moment of dread when the voice in their head says, “What if they find something?” Not that this is any different than all our other patients having any exam for any reason. It is that this is a screening exam that you have every year, not ever expecting anything to be wrong.

To create a more comprehensive program, Banner Imaging now offers genetic testing through Ambry Genetics, a company that performs genetic testing for hereditary cancer. Through a health history form, patients are screened to determine who may benefit from the testing. Patients that qualify submit a saliva sample and receive results through the Ambry portal. Results are also sent to their referring physician. We have partnered with the genetics program with Banner MD Anderson for continuum of care. Ambry Genetics also has a team of genetic counselors that can assist patients with understanding the results so they can make informed decisions.

Regardless of the technology within any successful mammography program, it is the people employed in the program that will make or break it.

Every area of imaging is short staffed right now. In order to cultivate the next generation of successful mammo techs, we have partnered with a local community college to create a mammography education program. Amy Peronace, director of women’s imaging at Banner Imaging, has accepted a position as an adjunct professor at Gateway Community College in Phoenix. This program is brand new. She has worked to develop the curriculum with national mammography education leaders to ensure the program will produce skilled, well-trained technologists. Many techs find their passion in mammography because of a personal experience. This education will give them the tools they need to put their mark on women’s imaging.

This program will not only help Banner Imaging fill the gap in staffing mammography, but it will also help others in our community that provide this service. It may also allow technologists that have not had

the opportunity to move into a cross-training position be proactive and ready to achieve a career goal.

There are also non-technologists on our women’s imaging team that make a difference. We have interventional breast schedulers, medical imaging assistants, patient access representatives and other support staff that serve in our breast imaging centers. Our entire team has an impact on the patient experience. Those that need to return for additional views, an MRI or biopsy are even more anxious when they return. It is at this time that we can really go the extra mile, whether it is by the technologist or any other team member. Those soft skills are what make the difference.

I often see comments on our Medallia survey from patients that come back to our centers year after year to see the same technologist. Our patient trusts them and, in some cases, even look forward to seeing them, despite the fact that a mammogram is the reason to do so. It is a culture of caring that I see described in those comments. “We’ve got you; we are on

your team,” is the message we are trying to convey. Just a quick note on another topic. Whether it is MRI, CT, PET/CT, diagnostic radiography, fluoroscopy, DXA, ultrasound or mammogRegardless of raphy, we are dedicated professionals that have worked very hard to hone the technology our skills. Imaging requires technical ability, advanced education, emotional within any intelligence and compassion. With Rad Tech Week coming up, it is a good time successful to address something that I first heard about in the first week of radiology mammography program, it training. We are technologists, not technicians. We don’t fix our equipment, not that we haven’t all figured out a work is the people around to keep a unit going. I would like to propose that we employed in the work together to educate on this subject. I understand how the average program that person may not realize the difference and I am OK with that. Other health will make or care professionals, as well as corporate partners that are working to convince break it. imaging leaders to purchase their products, should know the difference. Thanks for all you do! • Beth Allen, RT(R)(CT), CRA, is the director, clinical operations at Banner Imaging.