Local mammography unit receives accreditation

News Release
RHCF

Riverside Health Care‘s new digital mammography unit, installed in October 2012 at the La Verendrye General Hospital site in Fort Frances has achieved accreditation status from the Canadian Association of Radiologists (CAR), as part of the Mammography Accreditation Program.
“Earning this three-year accreditation is significant,” said Bernie Rittau RHC manager of diagnostic imaging. “We always maintained CAR accreditation on our previous film-based mammography unit. However, achieving accreditation with our new digital unit was a more rigorous process, so we are very proud to report that when residents come to Riverside for testing, they are still receiving the gold standard of care.”
The purchase of the digital mammography equipment was made possible through the Riverside Foundation for Health Care‘s successful 2012 “Together We Can” campaign. The effort garnered incredible support from groups, businesses, organizations, families, and individuals across the Rainy River District.
“The diagnostic testing that we provide impacts decisions made regarding the care of our patients. So the testing has to be optimal in order to guarantee that the information our physicians receive is correct. For diagnostic imaging, it encourages all staff and technologists to maintain and evolve their education. All of this falls in line with our strategic plan to deliver exceptional care and a commitment to continuous improvement,’ Rittau added.
RHC is also a member of the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP). This means that while patients seeking a digital mammography still need to make an appointment, but they do not longer require a referral from their family doctor—which makes the service much more accessible.
The OBSP ensures Ontario women aged 50 and over receive the benefits of regular mammography screening. The program is designed to increase the number of women who have regular breast screening so that cancers are diagnosed early when treatment is often easier and more successful.
Riverside Health Care is a fully accredited multi-site, multi-function health care system serving the residents of the Rainy River District. RHC operates hospitals in Fort Frances, Emo and Rainy River, and Rainycrest Long-Term Care Home and La Verendrye Non Profit Supportive Housing in Fort Frances. Each community is also served by Riverside Community Counselling which provides addictions, mental health and family violence treatment services, Community Support Services through Rainycrest and Valley Diabetes Education Centre which provides important chronic disease management programming. For more information, please visit riversidehealthcare.ca.