Eight Ways to Prepare Staff, Educate Patients About Mammography Recommendations

Offer information from noted breast imaging experts. This can be garnered through a Web search. Acquire a list of links and quotes. The information gathered can also be disseminated through multiple channels – via e-mail, posted on your Web site, printed in your newsletter, distributed at health fairs or hosted in a conference/forum.

Form partnerships. Work closely with your local ACS and such organizations as the Komen Foundation, which still supports the previous recommendation, in order to provide other resources women trust.

Work with the news media. “Contact local news media and have a local breast imaging or breast surgeon provide a forum for women to call in with questions or just discuss the findings [of the committee] and conclusions and rebuttals,” says Rush. Also work to get information into the local print media.

Alert your referring physicians. "Offer to speak with their referrers directly to help them determine how they will counsel women,” Rush says. Your marketing department should get out and talk with the physicians’ staff members, Rush adds.

Train internal staff members. Provide your breast imaging staff, including schedulers, information on how to answer questions from patients. Or set up a protocol that directs women to contact their physicians. If you refer women to their physicians, make sure the physician is willing to take this responsibility and has the necessary facts. If he or she chooses not to counsel patients, your facility must be prepared.

Educate patients directly. Use your Web site to allow women to read position statements on this topic directly. Hold an educational seminar for the community possibly in conjunction with your local ACS or Komen Foundation.