For 35 years, the Mobile Mammography Unit – affectionately known as the ‘Mammography Van’ – has provided women in New Haven, across New Haven County, and throughout the Shoreline communities, easy and efficient access to mammography screenings. While a mammogram is a critical component of the annual well-woman exam, many women avoid the screening out of fear. Fear of going to the doctor, fear of experiencing pain during the exam, fear of the test results. The van and its ability to enter neighborhoods and bring healthcare services to the community, is making an impact with its approachability and is saving lives.
The mission of the van is to bring the same standard of care into communities and work sites that visitors would receive as a patient inside Yale New Haven Health facilities. The original van that launched in 1987 offered 2D mammography, which was the standard technology of the time. And now, version three of the van, which hit the road in October 2020, offers 3D mammography as well as ultrasound–the exact technology available at Smilow Cancer Hospital locations. Incredibly, it was the first mobile unit to offer this level of technology in the United States, and is paired with 5G technology for faster transmission of the images back to the radiology department.
Jacquelyn Crenshaw, Senior Manager of Breast Imaging, responsible for staffing the van and leading fundraising efforts, said, “The vision of this resource is to allow access to everyone, to get rid of disparities, and provide access to the best equipment.” Jackie has passionately served in this capacity since 2016, but has been part of team staffing the van for more than 20 years and was instrumental in securing funds for the latest edition. Helping everyone gain access to basic healthcare is personal for Jackie. “I was born and raised here, I was schooled here, and I was trained here at Yale New Haven Hospital in radiology and mammography. I believe knowledge is power. While people are afraid, educating patients, the community, and the corporations we serve makes a difference.”
Women who visit the unit and have health insurance generally incur no cost as most insurers cover mammography in full, and most will also fully cover ultrasound testing. For women who are uninsured, the team works closely with the CT Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Screening Program to provide mammograms, clinical breast exams, and Pap smears free of charge. In support of maintaining full coverage, Jackie has visited the State Capitol in Hartford to rally for insurers to continue to provide full coverage for 3D and breast ultrasound screening.
For now, the footprint of coverage for the mobile unit mirrors areas that have a Yale-affiliated facility nearby, should patients need follow-up care. Jackie has a greater goal, however, and that is to cover the entire state with visits from the mammography van and maybe even have two vans she says with a virtual wink.
In the meantime, the van continues to travel and provide mammogram screenings. The service averaged 800-900 screenings annually with the previous 2D unit prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. And during COVID, Jackie and her team (one tech associate and two mammographers/ultrasound techs - both technologists also drive the unit) continued to work, helping to alleviate the increasingly large backlog of screenings at Smilow Cancer Hospital. Between October 2020 and December 2021, using the new 3D unit, they completed more than 4,000 screenings; an astounding feat.
When reflecting on the last 35 years, Jackie says it is immeasurable to assess the impact it has provided to the community. But—she is quick to point out her predecessors, crediting Jean Deriso, Dean Poirier, Andrea Duarte, Judy Garguilo, and Shirley Pinette, all of whom worked fervently to help bring the initial concept of the van to life, get it out on the road, and promote its services. Thanks to their combined efforts over the last three decades, the mobile mammography unit continues, allowing Jackie to build upon their successes and grow her outreach team to include Mammography Coordinator and Outreach Educator, Sherena Harris, and Jenitza Irizarry, Latina Outreach Assistant.
“In the end,” Jackie said, “all of the community is getting access to the same standard of care we have at the hospital. But when you look at the impact on just one person, it just takes one. One person, one life.”