WEST PLAINS, MO – After more than a year of several successful fundraising initiatives, the Ozarks Healthcare Foundation was able to present a new mobile mammography unit to Ozarks Healthcare this week.
Several generous donors who participated in the Foundation’s fundraising campaign were able to welcome the unit to Ozarks Healthcare’s campus as it was driven by Dr. Charles Morgan, oncologist at Ozarks Healthcare’s Cancer Treatment Center, and escorted by local law enforcement to Ozarks Healthcare’s main campus.
“We are so proud to officially present this new mobile mammography unit to our health system,” Josh Reeves, Vice President of Development at Ozarks Healthcare, said. “Our Foundation set out with a vision to make screenings that should be routine to detect and prevent breast cancer in its most early, curable stages more accessible and convenient for those across our region. Through the overwhelming financial support, enthusiasm, and involvement of local businesses, community members, board members, and staff, our vision is now a reality.”
In total, more than $800,000 was raised to purchase the unit from Fire Master Fire Equipment, Inc. Several businesses and community members hosted special fundraisers or donated portions of their proceeds to the Foundation’s fundraising efforts over the course of the campaign.
“This is an exciting time for our health system and community,” Tom Keller, Ozarks Healthcare President and CEO, said. “We are grateful for our Foundation’s hard work and investment in making simple, but what can also be life-saving screenings, more available for community members across our region, especially those in some of our most rural areas.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the second most common cancer among women in the U.S. (some kinds of skin cancer are the most common). Finding breast cancer early reduces risk of death from the disease by 25-30% or more. Women should begin having mammograms yearly at age 40, or earlier if they’re at high risk.
Michelle Haney, radiology and patient navigator with Ozarks Healthcare spoke on how the unit will improve health opportunities for women:
“In our line of work, we, unfortunately, hear from many women who delay screenings out of inconvenience of time and travel,” Monica Oaks, mammogram technologist at Ozarks Healthcare, said. “With our new unit, we can make it easier for women to take a few moments out of their day to look out for their health, their families, friends, and those who love them.”
The unit will be traveling across Ozarks Healthcare’s service region in South-Central Missouri and North Arkansas to offer screenings through the year. Dates and locations will be announced through Ozarks Healthcare’s social media and website.
