Women's Voices Helped Shape Newly Rnovated MCG Mammography Area

Augusta, Ga. -- Many women facing a mammogram may be understandably apprehensive about the procedure. Will I be comfortable? Will the procedure be explained to me? What about privacy?-These are only some of the questions that women may ask.

MCG Health System addressed these concerns and others in the renovation of mammography area of MCG Breast Health Services, completed this month. Located on the first floor of MCG Medical Center, the mammography area incorporated input from patients during the redesign.

The result is a welcoming and soothing environment, complete with frosted glass doors for privacy and plush chairs in the waiting areas, where patients can help themselves to complimentary beverages. Renovations also included the three mammography rooms, a stereotactic biopsy suite and the addition of a dedicated breast ultrasound room, all centralized to allow for additional patient privacy and convenience.

A major focus was breast health education. A new patient education area features computer carrels and a TV/VCR combination for research and learning. "Our goal is not only to provide a more comfortable environment for the patient, but also to promote education to the community about breast health," said Dr. James Rawson, Chief of Radiology at MCG Health System. "Ultimately, we want to empower women in their quest for better health care. This renovation, along with the upcoming addition of the CSRA's only PET/CT scanner to MCG Health System, will enable us to offer women a complete breast health care package."

MCG Health System is composed of MCG Health, Inc. and the clinical services offered by the faculty of the Medical College of Georgia and the members of the Physicians Practice Group. MCG Health, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation operating the MCG Medical Center, Children's Medical Center, the Georgia Radiation Therapy Center and related clinical facilities and services. MCG Health, Inc. was formed to support the research and education mission of the Medical College of Georgia and to build the economic growth of the CSRA, the state of Georgia and the Southeast by offering the highest level of primary and specialty health care. For more information, please visit www.mcghealth.org.