Grand Mammo Opening to Kick Off Breast Cancer Awareness Month

New technology, same caring service

By Kelly Nicol

Messenger Editor

CROCKETT – Great news for the citizens of Crockett – and in this case the entire county – seem to follow Crockett City Administrator John Angerstein and Crockett Medical Center CEO Tommy Johnson.

Through the Community Enhancement Grant (which is focused on rural health care needs), the City of Crockett in a collaborative effort with the Houston County Hospital District and Crockett Medical Center were able to secure a $150,000 grant to help purchase a new state-of-the-art mammogram machine.

According to Angerstein, the city filed for the grant while Crockett Medical Center along with Houston County Hospital District provided matching funds to complete the year-long project. The brand new machine uses digital technology as opposed to the older film machine that was used prior to the new hospital group taking over.

“This is a great addition for local healthcare. The Hologic Mammography machine also is upgradable to 3D through a software update that is in the works. This is the most advanced system of its kind and will bring Crockett to the leading edge of breast cancer detection,” Angerstein said.

Although the mammography machine and technology are new, the familiar, caring faces will be back running the mammogram suite. Radiology Director Karla Burdette and Valerie Darden-Davis have worked together for the past 30 years and in Crockett for the last eight years.

“Now women can use Crockett Medical Center for screening and diagnostics. Convenience is a major factor. Early detection is key in fighting breast cancer and having a local option is imperative to the community. The hospital is working hard to add services and will hopefully have the 3D option online soon,” Burdette said.

The ladies have a genuine care for their patients and expressed the desire to get to know the people they deal with.

“I walk in with the patient and walk out with them as well. Getting to know the people going through this is what makes rural healthcare special,” Darden-Davis said.

Her favorite saying is “To love what you do and know it matters… what could be more fun.”

Both ladies stated that they would make the suite as comfortable as possible for their patients and looked forward to the grand opening so they could get back to what they loved to do.

The Grand Mammo Opening will be Tuesday, Oct. 8, from 2 to 6 p.m. with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. in the Crockett Medical Center main lobby. The free event will be sponsored by Crockett Medical Center and will include chances to win a free mammogram from Crockett Medical Center, door prizes from all vendors, coloring contests by local school districts, bra decorating contest by hospital departments, and complimentary drinks and snacks.

This will be the first of several articles this month honoring Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please contact The Messenger with any and all news related to Breast Cancer Awareness Month for us to pass on to our readers.

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