Mobile Mammogram Unit Enhances Women’s Health Care Accessibility in Southern California
SAN DIEGO — A groundbreaking initiative is making women’s health care more accessible through a mobile mammogram unit, with the goal of increasing breast cancer screening availability.
Jennifer Nuovo, M.D., who serves as the chief medical officer for Blue Shield of California’s Promise Health Plan, explains how this mobile facility is making a significant impact by delivering vital breast cancer screenings directly to communities in Los Angeles and San Diego counties.
“We have a substantial number of members who haven’t been keeping up with their mammograms,” Nuovo noted. “So, we reach out to everyone within a five-mile radius to inform them about our upcoming mammogram event and encourage them to attend and complete this essential screening.”
(Spectrum News/Bree Steffen)
The mobile unit typically sets up at locations like San Ysidro Health, which lacks its own mammogram facilities. The mission is particularly personal for Nuovo, who lost her mother to breast cancer.
“My mother was incredibly busy, always helping out others,” Nuovo recalled.
One of the women benefiting from this initiative is Diana Solorio, who chose to get a mammogram due to the convenient location of the pop-up clinic.
“Since I’m familiar with the area, knowing the clinic’s location was straightforward,” Solorio explained. “When I heard it was next to Sprouts, I immediately recognized where that was.”
(Spectrum News/Bree Steffen)
The National Institute of Health has stressed that breast cancer stands as the most common cancer affecting women in the United States across diverse backgrounds.
Solorio expressed her determination to catch up on her health screenings, admitting she is overdue for a mammogram.
“We often think, ‘That won’t happen to me,’ but it’s crucial that we take responsibility for our own health rather than leaving it to chance,” she stated.
Since its inception, the Blue Shield Promise mobile mammogram program has successfully conducted over 70 clinics, addressing the care needs of more than 1,000 women who previously postponed or missed essential screenings.
Nuovo remains hopeful for advancements that will make mammograms even more accessible but emphasizes that women should take proactive steps now.
“Ongoing developments in technology, such as handheld devices, are on the horizon. However, until that becomes a reality, it’s vital for women to take charge of their health by scheduling and attending their mammograms,” she urged. “It’s essential to stay healthy not just for ourselves, but also for our families and communities.”
The CDC continues to endorse regular mammograms as the most effective approach for early detection of breast cancer, greatly enhancing recovery potential.
