AdventHealth’s mammography buses, which travel the Tampa Bay area, are making it easier than ever to receive preventative care by bringing mammography technology and technologists close to where patients live and work. The effort consists of three mobile mammography buses, each with waiting areas, changing rooms and mammography suites equipped with Hologic 3D mammography systems. The screenings take about 10 minutes, and the results are then sent to the patients and their doctors for follow-up care. As of January 2025, the mammography mobiles had provided over 6,100 screenings, made possible through its partnerships with local organizations, including Hillsborough County Public Schools. Although most insurance plans cover an annual mammogram for women ages 40 and older, AdventHealth also helps connect patients without insurance coverage to receive affordable or free screening options to further support early detection.
Why We Did It
According to experts, screenings reduce the risk of mortality from breast cancer by almost half. While the survival expectation for stage one breast cancer is 99%, higher stages, such as four and five, only hold a 50% survival rate, bringing to light why screenings are so important. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, starting at age 40, yearly mammograms are recommended, and most health insurance plans cover the examinations. By providing three mobile mammography buses, AdventHealth helps ensure women in the Tampa Bay area have access to the most up-to-date care, increasing access to early detection screenings and potentially saving lives.
