WASHINGTON -- The staff of the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center is committed to providing women Veterans with the right care, in the right place, at the right time with state-of-the-art equipment and technology. On Oct. 7, this goal became a little easier with the opening of the Women’s Health Clinic’s new state-of-the-art Mammography Suite which offers both 2-D (conventional) and 3-D (Tomosynthesis -problem solving) X-ray mammography.

Women Veterans are the fastest growing Veteran population. The Women’s Health Care Program ensures Women Veterans have access to timely, equitable, high-quality, and comprehensive health care services in a sensitive and safe environment.

Not only is having onsite mammography more convenient and comfortable for women Veterans, but it provides for more timely results. According to Dr. Tahira Ahmed, the Medical Center’s new Chief of Mammography, having the services onsite provides women with same-day results. “By the time a patient leaves the Women’s Health Clinic, she will know the results of her mammogram,” said Ahmed. The study and results will immediately become part of the patient’s electronic health record. Also, by not having to make an appointment and go off station for the mammogram, busy women may be more likely to comply with their health care provider’s breast screening recommendations.

Getting mammograms on a regular basis is an effective way to detect breast cancer in its early stages. Women should speak to their health care providers about risk factors and how often they should have a mammogram. For more information or to schedule a mammogram, call the Women’s Health Clinic at 202-745-8582.