Broadband Boost for Rural Breast Screening
Broadband Boost for Rural Breast Screening |
| Media release - 2 August 2006 |
| New world class broadband services will help to save the lives of women in Wangaratta, the Minister for Information and Communication Technology, Marsha Thomson, announced today. Ms Thomson said the Bracks Government had provided $1.9 million to help BreastScreen Victoria establish the Australian first Rural Broadband Digital Mammography pilot project. "Wangaratta now has access to BreastScreen Victoria's Mobile Screening Service, offering local women the latest in new digital mammography technology when screening for breast cancer," Ms Thomson said. "This new technology will mean faster access to test results, speeding up the time in which women can receive any necessary treatment which could ultimately save their lives. "Combining the latest digital mammography equipment and technology with a broadband communications network means images can be instantly sent between the mobile unit and BreastScreen Victoria assessment centres. "This project is a wonderful example of how making broadband happen can directly improve health services for women in regional Victoria, and create opportunities for further research into breast cancer. "While the physical experience of having a mammogram remains the same, the real advantage in using digital technology is that the radiographers in the mobile unit can view the images instantly on a computer screen before forwarding to specialist radiologists for analysis." BreastScreen Victoria CEO Onella Stagoll said that before now, mammograms taken as film x-rays had to be driven long distances to major hospitals for development and analysis. "In particular, digital mammography is making vast improvements in 'step down assessments', when women require further mammograms and possibly an ultrasound to follow up abnormalities seen on their regular mammogram," Ms Stagoll said. "In these instances the digital images can now be sent in real-time to the assessment centre in Melbourne where a specialist radiologist can advise whether any additional images are needed and whether additional testing is required at hospital." Telstra Country Wide will supply the mobile broadband network for the three-year pilot project. "Telstra is proud to be powering this important project. It will be a national exemplar applicable to breast screening and diagnostic health services Australia-wide," Telstra Country Wide Area General Manager, Margaret O'Rourke, said. During 2006-2007 the Mobile Screening Service with digital mammogram equipment will have visited; Yarrawonga, Corryong, Myrtleford, Tallangatta, Wangaratta, Mallacoota, Orbost, Omeo, Yarram, Foster and Leongatha. Because visit dates can be varied at short notice, these should be double checked with BreastScreen Victoria. The Mobile Screening Service will be in Wangaratta until December 2006. |
| Women aged 50-69 are encouraged to phone BreastScreen Victoria to make an appointment for their free mammogram on 13 20 50. |
| The Rural Broadband Digital Mammography project is supported by the Bracks Government and the Commonwealth Department of Communications, Information, Technology and the Arts. |
