FLORENCE, Ky. — October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and staff at St. Elizabeth Healthcare are working to make testing easier for Northern Kentucky residents in our mobile mammography van.
Madonna Vinicombe has over 30 years of experience working in healthcare, but her current career focus is running the mammography van at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. “I do what I love and I love what I do,” she said.
Vinnicom said the van allows her and her staff to go to communities where medical services are not always available.
“I think my calling into this was to really make a difference and be involved in the community,” she said. “I love the community involvement that we’re fortunate to have when we’re out and about in our mobile mammography van. So I think that part was great.”
According to the National Institutes of Health study, The number of breast cancer screenings decreased from 2019 to 2020. Mammography screenings decreased by 44%. Vinnicom and staff technician Jody Issenman say they want to educate women and reduce barriers that prevent them from taking the exam.
The goal has always been to “reach women, educate them about the importance of mammography, get screened and stay healthy,” Issenman said.
“We’re committed to eliminating barriers. So if the barrier for a woman is not having insurance, there are funds available to cover the cost of a mammogram. There is no need to worry,” Vincom added.
They emphasized that St. Elizabeth has systems in place to make testing as easy as possible for patients, who come back every two years for testing.
“We’re removing the barrier for a lot of women who say, ‘I don’t have time…I don’t have time to do a screening mammogram,'” said Vinicombe. Well, we come all over town. It only takes 10 to 15 minutes, so it’s very convenient. ”
The program manager says they want to help as many people as possible with the van. For more information about mammography at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Website.
