(Topeka, Kan., June 6, 2008) – Cotton-O’Neil Clinic – Oskaloosa is now offering a potentially lifesaving prevention screening tool to facilitate early detection of breast cancer. Cotton-O’Neil Clinic, located at 209 W. Jefferson, is the only clinic in Jefferson County to offer mammograms to women, and therefore filling a void in medical services available in the community.
The Cotton-O’Neil Clinic in Oskaloosa was recently awarded a three-year accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR) Committee on Mammography Accreditation. Jennifer Martin, who is registered by the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists as a radiology technologist, coordinated the accreditation process. Martin performs mammography at the Oskaloosa clinic. The ACR awards accreditation to facilities with high practice standards following review by the accrediting organization. The accreditation of the clinic mammography services included evaluation of the following criteria:
- Equipment performance, image quality, and radiation dose
- Technologist and physicist quality control/quality assurance tests and record keeping
- Medical records, including mammography reports and films
- Personnel qualification records
The mammography services at Cotton-O’Neil Clinic in Oskaloosa met all the testing criteria, receiving accreditation for a period of three years.
The purpose of mammography is to detect breast cancer at early stages of development, which results in greater treatment options. Having a mammogram combined with a breast exam completed by a medical professional is the most effective way to detect breast cancer early. Recent studies have also shown that breast cancer screening through the use of a mammogram reduces the number of deaths from breast cancer for women ages 40 to 69, especially those over age 50.
What is a mammogram?
A mammogram is an X-ray screening of the breast. Screening is the process of looking for cancer before a person has any symptoms. Mammography screening is used to detect and evaluate breast abnormalities in women who may or may not have symptoms for breast cancer.
How often should I get a mammogram?
According to the American Cancer Society, women age 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year or two, and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Recent evidence has confirmed that mammograms offer substantial benefit for women in their 40s.
Women in their 20s or 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a periodic health exam by a health professional preferably every three years.
How much does a mammogram cost?
Screening mammograms generally cost between $50 and $150. Most states now have laws requiring health insurance companies to reimburse all or part of the cost of screening mammograms. Insurance companies and health care providers can supply details. All women age 40 and older with Medicare can get a screening mammogram each year. Medicare will also pay for one baseline mammogram for a woman between the ages of 35 and 39. There is no deductible requirement for this benefit, but Medicare beneficiaries have to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount. Information about Medicare coverage is available at http://www.medicare.gov on the Internet, or through the Medicare Hotline at (800) 633–4227 (1–800–MEDICARE). For the hearing impaired, the telephone number is (877) 486–2048.
Who do I contact to schedule my mammogram?
The Cotton-O’Neil Clinic in Oskaloosa is now scheduling appointments for mammograms. To schedule an appointment, call the clinic at (785) 863-3417 or talk to your physician about the appropriate time for you to receive a mammogram.
