Coosa Valley Federal Credit Union has recently partnered with Floyd Medical Center and the hospital employees service organization “SPIRIT”, to help fund the new mobile mammography coach.

“When the opportunity to partner with Floyd Medical Center on such a life saving project came about, the decision to participate was an easy one.” said Ron Tomlinson, president and CEO of Coosa Valley Credit Union. “This program mirrors the Credit Union philosophy of people helping people. We are proud and honored to partner with the Breast Cancer Center and Floyd as well as to have the new mobile mammography coach carry the Coosa Valley Credit Union name.”

The bright green mobile mammography coach will travel throughout the Northwest Georgia area and will especially target women in Chattooga and Walker counties. Women in both these counties have the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the region, a rate that is higher than both the Georgia and United States averages.

The breast cancer death rate for women in Walker County is 32.0 per 100,000. In Chattooga County the death rate is 28.9 per 100,000. In Polk County the death rate is 31.3 per 100,000. In Floyd County, that rate is 23.0 per 100,000.

The customized bus is outfitted with digital screening mammography technology. Its debut is timed to coincide with National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is October, and the announcement of the opening of The Breast Center, a new concept in comprehensive breast care located on the second floor of Floyd Medical Center at the hospital’s north entrance.

Both The Breast Center and the mobile mammography coach are designed to empower and encourage women to be knowledgeable about their breast health needs in an easily accessed, comfortable, supportive and technologically advanced environment designed especially for women.

“This mobile mammography coach will help us to meet the women of Northwest Georgia where they are,” said Aimee Griffin, director of The Breast Center. “Despite the overwhelming evidence that early detection is the best protection against breast cancer, one-third of women 40 and over have not had an annual mammogram in the past two years.

“Now, our mobile mammography unit will bring mammography to women who–whether because of transportation, health, work or family issues, cannot or have not scheduled an annual mammogram.”

In addition to providing screening mammography, the mobile mammography coach will be a resource center for breast health education, Griffin said.

“Our staff will be going into the communities that we serve teaching women about the importance of monthly breast self-exams, annual clinical exams and annual mammography. The mobile mammography coach will be an extension of The Breast Center, giving us the opportunity to touch many more women and, potentially, saving many more lives.”

The Breast Center’s specially trained clinicians will guide patients through their breast health needs in a comfortable, supportive and technologically advanced environment designed especially for women. This new concept in breast health concentrates on five areas of service to ensure a balanced and comprehensive care plan designed individually for each patient: teaching, caring, diagnostics, treatment and support.

Because early detection remains the single best protection against breast cancer, the woman who knows her body, knows the importance of a regular breast exam and an annual mammogram and knows her risk of breast cancer is empowered by her knowledge. When detected early, breast cancer has a 96 percent survivor rate.

The bright green mobile mammography coach will travel throughout the Northwest Georgia area and will especially target women in Chattooga and Walker counties. Women in both these counties have the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the region, a rate that is higher than both the Georgia and United States averages.

Only time will tell the number of lives saved by this most worthwhile endeavor and Coosa Valley Credit Union is proud to have apart in it.

Coosa Valley Credit Union CEO and President Ron Tomlinson, Board Chair Cleve Hartley and Marketing Director Robert Smyth are pictured with the new mobile mammography coach during the ribbon cutting of the Floyd Medical Center breast Cancer Center.