The mission of the Patient Experience Workgroup is to grow and support diverse patient populations in care settings and in the community. Furthermore, it is their charge to ensure that patients, families, care givers, and visitors are engaged and feel their individual backgrounds, traits, and skills are valued and respected.

Below are a small subset of the programs and interventions that the Patient Experience Workgroup have piloted or implemented at MGH Imaging.

Breast cancer screening is important for all patients with breast tissue, regardless of their race, ethnicity, or gender identity. However, there are significant disparities in breast cancer screening in the United States which lead to delays in discovery, delays in treatment, and ultimately higher rates of death. For instance, while Black and white women develop breast cancer at the same rate, in Chicago Black women are 42% more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. We know screening saves lives, however with busy schedules and inconvenient imaging centers, getting annual screening can be difficult. At MGH we offer extended hours (until 9:00 pm at some locations) and Saturday mammograms at our conveniently located Mammograms are available in Boston, Waltham, Revere and Danvers outpatient facilities.  Additionally, we also offer same day breast cancer screening options for patients after their primary care doctor’s appointment.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related  death in American, however if caught early there are many treatment options available, which, in some cases can, cure you of the disease. Early detection is vital. In 2015 Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Serves announced high risk patients were eligible to yearly lung cancer screening exams with low-dose CT imaging for free.

To address this disparity, we have begun offering same day lung cancer screening exams for patients undergoing breast cancer screening who qualify.