Word From the Chairman

Recently the Imaging Department has added an additional digital mammographic unit to address the ever-
increasing demand for mammography services. We are in the process of becoming completely digital in both mammo centers. This will help to increase productivity and throughput of patients. Medical evidence strongly indicates that for screening, digital is superior to analog mammography (DMIST study-American College of Radiology Imaging Network 2006).

Wait times for screening mammography have been significantly reduced from 4 months to 4-5 weeks. Although this may still seem like a relatively long wait time, please be aware that the demand for mammography far exceeds the capacity throughout the United States, and Los Angeles is no exception. Numerous sites have closed for reasons that include low reimbursements and very difficult regulatory hurdles. In response, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center has expanded its program while maintaining the highest standards.

As you may know, the FDA regulates mammography under a congressional law known as the Mammography Quality Standards Act. Accreditation is mandatory and the requirements for such are quite rigorous. I am pleased to inform you that our mammography division, including all of its equipment, was recently re-accredited.

With the above changes, our goal is to accommodate your patients with the greatest ease and report to you in a most timely fashion.

I welcome your input and suggestions.
Please send them to me at
pressmanb@cshs.org.

Upcoming:

Imaging Grand Rounds

May is Osteoporosis Month

It is estimated that every year in the United States 750,000 people suffer from vertebral compression fractures, of these, only one third are diagnosed.