Bryan Health on Friday announced the launch of Sammy’s Bus, a mobile mammography unit serving Lincoln and surrounding areas.
Anne Dorn, radiology manager at Bryan Medical Center, said the bus was designed to improve access to breast cancer screenings by removing the barriers of distance and time that sometimes prevent women from seeking them out.
“The goal is for it to be convenient for patients,” she said. “The more patients we screen, the better.”
Valerie Hunt, executive director of the Bryan Foundation, said Sammy’s Bus was designed to offer an experience similar to what patients would find at an on-site Bryan Health location.
“The goal was to make it comforting and not a scary place at all,” Hunt said.
The bus’ name represents the concept that breast cancer can affect anyone.
“Sammy can be a mother, a loved one, a daughter, and it's just so incredibly important for women to understand that screening, early detection and prevention is the best way to save lives,” Hunt said.
To receive a screening, patients must obtain an order from their primary care provider and make an appointment at one of the upcoming locations. Dorn said the bus focuses on visiting areas where access to breast cancer screenings is limited.
Hunt said that while most insurance plans cover mammograms, the Bryan Foundation may be able to provide financial support for patients facing financial barriers.
The bus was funded by anonymous donations, which Dorn said totaled about $2 million.