Hospital looks to secure breast cancer screening equipment

The North Valley Hospital Foundation is seeking volunteers to assist in a project to secure specialized 3D breast cancer screening equipment for North Valley Hospital in Whitefish.

A Digital Breast Tomosynthesis (DBT) support team will promote the project, and volunteers who have any personal connection to detecting breast cancer early and increasing accuracy of screenings are welcome to join the planning team. Volunteers can contribute a wide variety of skills and talents to the project as exact needs are determined, according to the hospital.

Dr. Melissa Hulvat of the Bass Breast Center at Kalispell Regional Medical Center and Dr. Amanda Beer of Northwest Imaging in Kalispell are the physician champions supporting the efforts.

“As a breast imaging radiologist, it is incredibly satisfying to know that with this technology, I can save more lives from breast cancer while also reducing anxiety by bringing back fewer women for unnecessary extra tests,” Beer said.

Team meetings will be every two weeks throughout the summer starting on Wednesday, May 31 and the North Valley Hospital Foundation will work individually with volunteers to find the best focus for each person. Volunteers will help develop creative ways to thank donors, organize special events in the community and the hospital, brainstorm fundraising strategies, and complete other tasks as needed.

For more information, call Pam Ellis, North Valley Hospital Foundation Executive Assistant, at (406) 863-3630 or Alan Satterlee, North Valley Hospital Foundation Executive Director, at (406) 863-3560 or email foundation@nvhosp.org.

North Valley Hospital is a private nonprofit community critical access hospital governed by a volunteer board of directors from the North Valley area. The hospital and its affiliate clinics serve Flathead and Lincoln counties. North Valley Hospital is an affiliate of the Kalispell Regional Healthcare System.