Calais, ME -- The fundraising efforts for digital mammography equipment at Calais Regional Hospital recently received a healthy dose of encouragement in the form of a $40,000 pledge from the CRH Auxilairy. “For years, the Auxiliary has supported the capital and equipment needs of Calais Regional Hospital with major gifts to the Annual Fund,” stated Michael K. Lally, CRH CEO. “We continue to be impressed with and thankful for their leadership in supporting our community hospital.”

“The gift from the Auxiliary is our first major gift to the campaign,” explained DeeDee Travis, Director of Community Relations, Development and Customer Service. “We’re pleased that the Auxiliary has taken the lead in demonstrating support for the new mammography equipment.”

Although still up and running great, the hospital’s current mammogram analog system is due for replacement. With digital mammography becoming the new standard, it only makes sense to replace our current system with digital. Many of our patients are now being recommended for digital follow-ups and, we want them to be able to continue to receive their care here, at home, with us. Especially as some may find a hardship in accessing the service due to the required travel, or, even worse, may opt not to follow up with recommended screenings.

The replacement selected is a digital unit that will also include the industry’s largest field of view, meaning the ability to better screen and treat patients with large breasts. The new equipment will have the ability to interface with the digital archive system already installed at CRH. Digital mammography will allow CRH to offer better visibility of the breast, quicker exams, fewer repeat exams and electronic archival of patient records. With the patient’s mammogram being a digital file, quick access to specialist interpretation would now be a possibility – despite the rural nature of our location.

By making a leadership gift in this early stage of the campaign, the CRH Auxiliary has affirmed the importance of having local access to quality preventative services for the women in our service area. Auxiliary members encourage and remind all women to get regular checkups and annual mammograms after the age of 40. October is great month for this reminder as it is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.