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RHINEBECK - Northern Dutchess Hospital received a $168,000 grant from the state Department of Health to support continued technology upgrades. The hospital received the special grant to off-set the $500,000 in costs associated with the purchase and installation of a digital mammography unit.
Digital mammography has now become the “gold standard” in terms of screening for breast cancer. This state-of-the-art technology offers greater accuracy in the detection of small lesions, spots and lumps in an early state when treatment options have a much higher success rate.
According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in the United States, just behind skin and lung cancers.
About one out of every eight women will have breast cancer at some time in her life. Each year, nearly 200,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed and over 40,000 women die from this disease annually in the United States.
This digital mammography technology also supports Northern Dutchess Hospital’s overall Health Information Technology plan. With this technology, traditional film images are replaced by digital images. These images can then be viewed via a secured Internet link by consulting physicians and specialists at off-site locations.
“This support helps us provide the highest standard of care our patients expect and deserve”, says Denise George, president and CEO of Northern Dutchess Hospital. “It is a direct example of how healthcare leaders are working with our elected officials to bring the best technology to our patients.”
Senator Stephen Saland helped secure the grant.