DUNNVILLE (Jan. 31, 2017) — Haldimand War Memorial Hospital in Dunnville held a special event on Jan. 31, 2017 to celebrate becoming an Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) affiliate site. The OBSP is a province-wide, organized breast screening program that provides free, high-quality mammograms every two years to women aged 50 to 74 with no signs of breast cancer as part of their routine medical care.
HWMH is honoured to be recognized as an OBSP affiliate site, said Dr. Greg Mitton, the hospital’s Chief Radiologist. “Inclusion in this program provides our local community access to an established, high quality, province-wide service.”
“We are very pleased to work with Dr. Mitton and his team to have an OBSP site in the Dunnville community,” said Regional Cancer Programs Director Carol Rand. “We recognize that rural women can face barriers to screening such as convenient access and transportation. An OBSP at HWMH helps ensure rural women living in and around Dunnville have access to a high-quality screening program.”
HWMH President and CEO David Montgomery is proud that HWMH is part of the OBSP. “Being an affiliate site of the OBSP recognizes the excellent work our Diagnostic Imaging team performs on a daily basis and helps us to continue to provide the best care for every person, every time,” he said.
HWMH offered mammograms prior to the OBSP’s arrival as part of general diagnostic imaging services. The introduction of the OBSP to HWMH is part of Cancer Care Ontario’s plan to transition all screening mammography to the OBSP. We encourage women to discuss the benefits of screening mammography with their family physicians. Women can book an appointment for a mammogram by calling 905-774-7431, ext. 1221.
If you are not eligible for OBSP screening because you have had breast cancer, a mastectomy, or augmentation (implants), you can continue to have your mammogram at HWMH, but will need a referral from your family doctor.
The OBSP offers:
- Access to high-quality mammograms at sites accredited by the Canadian Association of Radiologists.
- Invitations to women to participate in screening when they turn 50 and a reminder letter when it is time to return for their next screening mammogram.
- Notification to participants and their family doctor or nurse practitioner of screening results.
- Tracking of participants through the screening process and help setting up extra tests or referrals if screening results suggest they are needed.