On Monday, November 14th, The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas, a MANA clinic, reopened the doors of their facility on 55 West Sunbridge Drive in Fayetteville after unexpectedly closing due to an attic fire on December 18, 2015. The renovated Breast Center features separate screening and diagnostic clinics, and FDA approved 3D Mammography or Tomosynthesis.
After the fire in late December 2015 forced the Sunbridge office to close, The Breast Center extended their hours to provide screening mammograms and diagnostic care at their office in Bentonville, added a mobile 3D Mammography unit in Fayetteville, and in March 2016 opened a temporary location at 3352 N. Futrall Drive in Fayetteville.
“We had many concerns after the fire, but our team always put our patients first,” said Dr .Danna Grear, who cofounded The Breast Center in 2003 with Dr. Kevin Pope. Grear continued, “We were concerned about not delaying urgent diagnostic procedures and keeping annual screening mammograms and Breast MRIs on schedule for our patients.“ Grear recently had an article published in the national Society of Breast Imaging October issue on the experience and the lessons she and her business partners learned.
During the renovation of the 10,000-square-foot facility, The Breast Center expanded into an additional 2,000-square-foot suite formerly occupied by another MANA clinic, Renaissance Women’s Healthcare Partners. The new space allowed the breast imaging practice to have a second entrance and lobby dedicated for routine screening services. The radiologists believe separate care areas will create a better environment for both screening and diagnostic patients. Three of the damaged mammography machines were replaced with 3D Mammography™ and a fourth mammography machine added. The new technology is the first FDA approved 3D Mammography™, also called Tomosynthesis. Studies have proven that 3D™ Mammography finds 41% more breast cancers and reduces the rate of false positives by 40%. The additional fee for the 3D™ mammogram is $60. Currently Medicare covers the advanced mammogram and other insurance plans are expected to follow in 2017. The patient’s experience is similar to that of a traditional mammogram.
On the east side, the former main entrance is now the Breast Center’s Diagnostic Services, with a private lobby and patient area where the breast imaging group focuses on patients who need problem solving, such as evaluation of a lump or other breast issues. In the Diagnostic Services clinic, they provide a larger variety of services including same day results for diagnostic mammograms, breast ultrasound, breast biopsy, and dedicated Breast MRI.
2016 was a busy, challenging year for The Breast Center physicians and staff. They cared for patients at a temporary clinic in Fayetteville, extended breast care hours at their Bentonville Breast Center, and renovated the fire-damaged Sunbridge facility. Milestone Construction helped with the damage repair and renovation on a tight time frame and purchased their workers special pink shirts to remind them of the importance of the project.
“We are amazed by the support we received after the fire. Our practice could not have prevailed without all of the help in our community,” said Dr. Kevin Pope. He continued, “We are so glad to be home on Sunbridge.”