Aimee Griffin, vice president for Professional Services at Atrium Health Floyd and Harbin Clinic general surgeon Dr. Paul Brock
Sixteen years ago, Atrium Health Floyd pioneered a new approach to breast care for women with the visionary efforts of Harbin Clinic surgeon Dr. Paul Brock and Aimee Griffin, now the vice president for Professional Services at Atrium Health Floyd. Their dream was to create a seamless, efficient breast care experience, which led to the establishment of The Breast Center.
Dr. Brock and Griffin believed their dream could be a reality, but knew cooperation from radiologists, pathologists and medical staff would be crucial. Dr. Brock played a key role as a physician advocate, ensuring the collaboration necessary to fulfill the promise of 24-hour turnaround results, now known as “Know in 24.”
“We designed The Breast Center to create a single point of entry for women to have mammograms, screening breast exams and diagnostic studies and within 24 hours be able to have the results of these studies to shorten the length of time they have from diagnosis to ultimate treatment options,” Dr. Brock said.
“Women, unfortunately in the past, have had to wait days, sometimes weeks for the information we got from their mammograms,” Dr. Brock said. “That delay is anxiety producing and is very difficult for patients. It has always been my goal to try to reduce that as much as possible to the shortest time interval for the patient’s sake.”
Griffin led the development of The Breast Center at Floyd, assembling a team dedicated to creating a welcoming environment and fostering community engagement around education and empowerment.
“Establishing The Breast Center was not just a professional endeavor,” Griffin said. “It was personally fulfilling. To know that we could impact the anxiety women feel following a mammogram, to know that we could reach women who otherwise might skip having an annual mammogram, to know that we would most definitely save lives, was so much bigger than establishing a new service line.”
The Breast Center provides a range of services beyond screening and diagnostic mammograms, including on-site clinical breast exams by specially trained providers, risk assessments, genetic testing, biopsies and breast health education. Griffin emphasized that this comprehensive approach is essential for eliminating barriers to access and equipping the community with life-saving information.
The Breast Center at Floyd offers a comprehensive suite of diagnostic services:
- Clinical Breast Exam: Specially trained providers conduct a physical breast exam. Women as young as 20 are encouraged to receive a clinical breast exam every one to three years.
- Mammogram: This low-dose X-ray detects changes in the breast. Annual visits to The Breast Center include either a screening or diagnostic mammogram. Screening mammograms are for women with no breast disease symptoms, while diagnostic mammograms are for those exhibiting symptoms, noticing changes in breast tissue or having a history of breast disease.
- Genius™ 3D Mammography: This technology provides detailed, layer-by-layer images of breast tissue, enhancing the detection of breast cancer, especially in women with dense breast tissue.
- Genetic Testing and Counseling: Women who meet specific criteria are advised to undergo genetic testing and counseling to determine if they carry the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutation associated with breast cancer.
- Breast Ultrasound: High-energy sound waves are used to create a sonogram, offering additional information about any detected abnormalities.
- Breast MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging is recommended for further evaluation of abnormalities found during mammography and for early cancer detection, particularly in women at high risk or those with dense breast tissue.
Reflecting on their progress, Griffin said, “I am grateful that nearly two decades ago, we worked together with Harbin Clinic to impact the health of women and their families, and I am grateful that work has continued. The Breast Center mission of providing mammogram results within 24 business hours was only possible because of our cooperation. Now that we are one Advocate Health/Atrium Health team, I can only imagine what we can accomplish together in the next 20 years.”
Care Beyond The Breast Center
Recognizing the need to make mammography services accessible in rural parts of northwest Georgia and northeast Alabama, Atrium Health Floyd simultaneously launched its Mobile Mammography Coach in 2008 with the opening of The Breast Center.
The Mobile Mammography Coach is equipped with advanced digital mammography technology and staffed by trained clinicians specializing in screening mammography. It provides a convenient option for those who need a mammogram but wish to minimize time away from work due to travel.
The experience is designed to be like a physician’s visit. The staff conducts mammograms and exams in a private, comfortable environment — so comfortable that patients may forget they are on a mobile unit.
A second mobile unit is planned for Atrium Health Floyd’s standalone emergency department in Chattooga County, enhancing access for women in rural communities. Atrium Health Floyd Cherokee Medical Center and Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center also offer screening, diagnostic mammograms and breast ultrasound.
For Bartow County residents, Harbin Clinic Imaging Cartersville offers its own advanced 3D mammograms for routine and diagnostic screenings. A quick and generally painless test, 3D mammograms take less than 20 minutes.
What to expect during mammography screenings
To receive a screening or mammogram at The Breast Center or mobile coach, patients can schedule an appointment on the Atrium Health Floyd website, call 706-509-6840 or have their provider send in a referral. To receive a mammogram at Harbin Clinic Imaging Cartersville, patients need to have their provider send in a referral. On screening day, patients should wear a comfortable two-piece outfit so only removal of a top is required. Patients can eat and drink normally as these tests require no diet changes or fasting.
A Typical Mammogram
Whether patients are coming for an annual screening or concerned about potential symptoms, mammography involves capturing images of the breast, sometimes from different angles. These images are then compiled to create a detailed picture of a patient’s breast tissue.
During these procedures, the breast is positioned and compressed, capturing images in a few seconds. This imaging process allows radiologists to examine the breast tissue in layers, making it easier to detect problematic areas.
3D mammography is particularly beneficial because it:
- Improves cancer detection rates.
- Reduces false positives and being called back for additional testing.
- Provides clearer images which is especially beneficial for individuals with dense breasts.
The Value of Mammography
Mammography requires little time and discomfort when considering the power of early breast cancer detection. In many cases, identifying cancer at a very early stage means more effective and less invasive treatment, keeping breast cancer from being life-threatening.
Contact your health care provider to help schedule a mammogram with The Breast Center, the Mobile Mammography Coach or with Harbin Clinic Imaging Cartersville today.
