Rader Clinic and Fort Belvoir Hospital Streamline Breast Cancer Detection

Last October, Marcia Flagg, a registered nurse and quality manager tasked with managing 14,000 Andrew Rader U.S. Army Health Clinic enrollees, noticed a problem: 700 enrollees, ages 52 to 74, were either overdue or never had a mammogram, a vital tool to screen for breast cancer early, according to Flagg. Mammograms are used to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, when treatment has a higher probability of being successful and the disease cured, according to the American Cancer Society.

Flagg, who has three decades of experience both in nursing and program management, knew a solution was needed. She immediately started an initiative that was twofold: first, she sent urgent letters to 700 patients and partnered with Fort Belvoir Community Hospital's mammography department. "The issue is every extra step that's added is going to increase the percentage of women who are going to delay having their mammogram done," Flagg said.

Clinical Screening Guidelines and Proactive Initiatives

The American Cancer Society recommends specific screening frequencies to ensure patient safety. According to their guidelines:

• Women ages 45-54: Should receive a mammogram every year.
• Women over 55: Should receive a mammogram every two years.

Secondly, Flagg coordinated with other local area military health treatment facilities with Mammography departments to begin seeing Rader's patients. For the past five months, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital's Mammography Department has accepted referrals from Rader Clinic to help screen the hundreds of patients overdue for mammograms. But patients have also been referred to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Kimbrough Ambulatory Care Center at Fort George G. Meade.

The Impact of Early Detection

The results of this collaboration have already proven life-saving. Less than two months into Flagg's breast cancer screening initiative, a spouse who was preparing to change duty stations with her husband tested positive for breast cancer. "Following two biopsies … she was diagnosed with two types of cancer," said Yaelmie Gomez, an Exceptional Family Member Program coordinator. "Hopefully we helped save a life by catching something that could have gone uncaught had it not been for Ms. Flagg's initiative and the collaboration with Fort Belvoir Community Hospital," Gomez said.

Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center Recognition

Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center (ATAMMC), formerly known as Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, was recently highlighted by Becker’s Hospital Review for the outstanding, high-quality care it provides to military medical beneficiaries. ATAMMC regularly receives five-star ratings from patients on HCAHPS surveys which culminated this year in Becker’s Hospital Review recognizing the northern Virginia military medical center as a “Top Recommended Hospital.”

The Alexander T. Augusta Military Medical Center is a 120-bed, 1.3 million-square-foot military medical center serving a regional population of 250,000 personnel. Below are some of the key statistics for the facility:

• Total Enrollees: 90,000 receiving inpatient and specialty care services.
• Specialty Clinics: Supported by 55 specialty clinics.
• Specialized Pavilions: Includes a Warrior Pavilion for combat injured and an Inpatient Addictions Program.
• Satellite Centers: Two satellite family health centers at Dumfries and Fairfax, Va.

Patient Services and Amenities

Fort Belvoir Community Hospital is a state-of-the art military hospital designed to provide "safe, quality, and compassionate care" to our nations active duty military, veterans, and their families. In addition to medical services, the facility offers specialized amenities for families and nursing mothers. Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia has a dedicated lactation room open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week for nursing moms to use. The room has the necessary amenities to help breastfeeding and breast pumping mothers get their task done.

The hospital also provides the following features for birth and postpartum care:

• Private labor & delivery rooms with walk in showers.
• Private postpartum rooms with pull-out sofas for support persons.
• Lactation consultants available on-site.
• Wireless monitors available in select rooms.

Flagg and Gomez both remind patients that self-care needs to be a priority, especially when it comes to potentially life-saving screenings and tests. "It also reiterates that it is important to stay current on your health," Gomez said.