Copper Queen Expands Women’s Wellness With Permanent and Mobile Diagnostic Services

Digital Mammography at Copper Queen Community Hospital

Copper Queen Community Hospital is upgrading its diagnostic services with the addition of a new digital mammography unit, replacing the analogue system, to enhance our Women’s Wellness services and offer an important resource to local residents, said Jim Dickson, Hospital CEO. “Breast cancer and Osteoporosis are two major diseases that affect women as they mature,” Dickson explained. “Through the new digital mammography equipment and the DEXA scan for bone density, CQCH will assist women to a healthier future.” Dickson added that rural women have a higher mortality rate of breast cancer because they don’t have access to affordable mammogram screenings. CQCH’s mission is very clear: “We want to offer every woman in our area access to this life-saving screening.”

The Copper Queen Community Hospital’s Selenia V Digital System offers improved screening process and diagnostic services. The new digital equipment allows CQCH to perform “soft “mammography giving patients a more comfortable screening by using specialized pads to cover the plates. This will also reduce the amount of radiation each patient receives from screening. The mammograms will be read by on site radiologists, Dr. Steven Walsh and Dr. David Klein, who will provide the highest quality readings and attentive follow-up on test results, Dickson said. These services are part of our Women’s Wellness program, which includes coordination with Tucson referral sources for specialized care if cancer is detected.

In addition to the permanent digital mammography unit at CQCH, a mobile mammography and bone density screening unit are serving the Douglas and Palominas communities monthly. The DEXA test (Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry) is the industry standard providing a safe and non-invasive use of x-ray technology to measure bone mineral loss. Dickson said that their goal is to bring these services closer to where patients live, making it more convenient for women to arrange and keep these important appointments. According to the National Cancer Institute, early detection saves lives and 96 percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years. While radiologists do not endorse one form of mammography over another, digital mammography is an important option for younger women and for women with dense breast tissue. Lower radiation exposure, both time and dosage, through the new technology, has been shown to be beneficial for all consumers. Copper Queen Community Hospital is dedicated to enhancing the health of women in Cochise County. These new services will enhance our Woman’s Wellness Program. See your doctor, get a prescription for mammography and bone density testing. Call us today to make an appointment for these life saving services. Please call (520)-432-6541.

Copper Queen Community Hospital has a rich heritage dating back to the 1880s when it operated as a part of the mining community, so important to the history of Bisbee. This 14-bed acute care critical access hospital is only one of four hospitals in Arizona recognized as a 100 Top Regional Hospitals. The award reviews hospitals for clinical excellence and efficient delivery of care. In 2008, the Rural Health Association presented the Inspiring Rural Health Program Award to the hospital’s teledermatology program. The Copper Queen Community Hospital is considered among the top 5 percent of hospitals nationally for its innovative use of technology and access to specialty services through its comprehensive telemedicine program. Expanding the hospital’s outreach to the region is the Copper Queen Medical Associates group which manages Rural Health Clinics in Bisbee, Douglas and Palominas/Hereford. For more information on the Copper Queen Community Hospital, visit it at 101 Cole Avenue in Bisbee, call 520-432-5383 or visit the website at www.cqch.org.