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Thomas R. Mullen, President and CEO with the aid of Sister Helen Amos, RSM, unveil a special commemorative plaque in honor of U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski (far right) and her efforts to bring digital mammography to Mercy.

U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski Announces Funding For Digital Mammography to Come to Mercy

(Baltimore, MD) — In ceremonies held the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 15th on the 5th floor of the Weinberg Center at Mercy, approximately 100 people gathered to recognize U.S. Senator Barbara A. Mikulski for her efforts to bring digital mammography to Mercy Medical Center. Senator Mikulski championed the Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS) and Educational FY2008 Appropriations Bill, recently passed by Congress, that will provide Mercy with $718,000 in funding to convert the hospital’s film-based mammography to computerized digital mammography.

As part of the ceremonies, Dr. Neil B. Rosenshein, Director, The Weinberg Center for Women’s Health and Medicine; Sr. Helen Amos, RSM, and Thomas R. Mullen, President and CEO, Mercy Health Services, unveiled a plaque in the Women’s Imaging center commemorating Senator Mikulski’s contributions to Mercy and the fight against breast cancer.

Plaque commemorates Senator Mikulski’s contributions to Mercy and the fight against breast cancer

Senator Mikulski complimented the Sisters of Mercy on their long tradition of service to the people of Baltimore, noting the efforts of Sister Helen Amos, RSM (Executive Chair, Mercy Board of Trustees), the late Sister Mary Thomas, RSM (former Mercy president and CEO for over 30 years), and Sister Elizabeth Anne, RSM, “who chaired the first task force for addressing the nursing shortage” in the area.

“In the 1960s while others were packing their bags and moving to the suburbs, the Sisters of Mercy and Mercy hospital stayed downtown. Mercy has provided over $34 million in uncompensated and charitable care. You have an open door and open hearts. You have compassion and competence and at the end of the day, that adds up to quality care,” Senator Mikulski said.

Senator Mikulski then noted that Mercy would be receiving a grant for $718,000 “to enable Mercy to take the next step from a film based to digital mammography. It’s a down payment to move mammography into the future,” she said.

(Left to right) (Back row), Dr. David Sill, Radiology; Thomas R. Mullen, Mercy President and CEO; (Front Row) Senator Barbara Mikulski; Dr. Barbara Jaeger, Director, Women's Imaging; Dr. Neil B. Rosenshein, Director, Weinberg Center for Women's Health & Medicine; Sister Helen Amos, RSM, Executive Chair, Mercy Board of Trustees; Dr. Gauri Bedi, The Hoffberger Breast Center at Mercy.

Dr. Neil B. Rosenshein, Director, The Weinberg Center for Women’s Health and Medicine, and Sister Helen Amos, RSM, provided opening remarks. Thomas Mullen, President and CEO, Mercy Health Services, was also on hand to unveil the plaque which will be installed in the Women’s Imaging center at Mercy. Other dignitaries on hand included Dr. Barbara Jaeger, Director, Women’s Imaging; Dr. Neil B. Friedman, Director, The Hoffberger Breast Center; members of the Mercy Board of Trustees; breast cancer survivors, members of the Sisters of Mercy and medical staff.

As a result of Mercy’s commitment to women’s health and its new facilities, Mercy is one of the largest hospital providers in Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic Region offering mammography and breast ultrasonography services to women. In FY 2007, approximately 12,000 mammograms were performed at Mercy in the Weinberg Center’s Women’s Imaging Center. These services were provided to women from throughout Maryland, the majority of who are from the City of Baltimore. Approximately 25% of the patients are under-served or under-insured.

Digital Mammography will allow Mercy to move away from a film based department to one that allows us to store computerized images and compare these images over time to detect breast changes (abnormalities) earlier, including breast cancer. Research has shown that digital mammography has proven to be especially useful for women with dense breast tissue.