The Hardin Memorial Health Board of Trustees unanimously gave the green light Tuesday to move forward with a business plan to implement 3-D mammography.

The board approved an initial investment of $1.2 million to purchase two 3-D mammography units to further advance the care Hardin Memorial offers the region.

Hardin Memorial Health Vice President of Operations Tom Carrico said about two years ago, they started a journey to comprise a comprehensive breast care program with three major components people, the process and technology.

Carrico said they have heavily invested into patients, saying, We have an all-star physician team.

We have all of the key components to make up, really, what is a comprehensive breast-care program here in Kentucky that rivals, I think, many across the nation, he said.

He said, with this new technology, the organization will be in position to significantly improve quality of care for those they serve.

We are here today for your approval of that technology, which is really the final feather in the hat, Carrico told board members Tuesday.

Also addressing the board was Hardin Memorial radiologist Dr. Sarah Callahan. She said the hospitals current 2-D imaging and biopsy system does not provide the most detailed image for screenings, diagnostic and breast biopsy. She said 3-D mammography exams are clinically proven to detect more invasive breast cancer, while also reducing unnecessary calls.

There is a learning curve when you implement a new technology like this, Carrico said. Every implementation they do have a slight increase, then it shortens off, Carrico said.

The new technology allows for a much more efficient biopsy for the patient, Callahan said.

The bottom line is it has the ability to detect smaller, invasive breast cancer. The breast cancer is there, we detected it maybe one year earlier, Callahan said. If you detect breast cancer in the early stages, it truly is curable. It is a highly curable disease if caught early.

As far as screenings go, Callahan said patients wont really notice a difference. The difference is on her end.

Instead of looking at four pictures ... I will now look at 120 images, she said.

Callahan said they receive calls every week asking if they offer 3-D mammography.

Board member Lisa Boone said, Like all the other women in this community, we have been waiting for 3-D mammography. ... We are anxiously awaiting it.

The equipment will replace one 2-D unit at the health groups main campus and add one new unit at Hardin Memorial Health Elizabethtown Diagnostic Imaging at Cool Springs on Ring Road. The investment also includes a new needle biopsy table. Hardin Memorial officials expect to have the new equipment in use before the end of the year. The remainder of the 2-D units across the health care system will be replaced in the next 12 to 14 months.

With October as breast cancer awareness month, Carrico told board members he would like to have a 3-D mammography available for use by mid-October.

The approval comes on the heels of two major gifts to the Hardin Memorial Health Foundation designated for 3-D mammography. Local entrepreneur Kelly Emerine recently presented an $80,000 gift to the foundation after the sale of her medication management app, Moms MedMinder, to the health group. Inspired by Emerine, board member and entrepreneur Mike Bowers presented a $20,000 gift to the foundation on behalf of area entrepreneurs.

Hardin Memorial Health President and CEO Dennis Johnson, in a news release, called the donations an important catalyst.

3-D mammography is an invaluable tool for HMHs Multi-Disciplinary Breast Team, Johnson said. This technology and the gifts that made it possible represent the immeasurable value the Foundation provides our health care system.

The board also approved plans to purchase Meade County Primary Care from KentuckyOne Health Medical Group. The two primary care physicians, four advanced practice registered nurses and 16 support staff at the practice will become Hardin Memorial employees. The practice will remain in the same location, and Hardin Memorial will assume ownership of the practice and the lease on the building on Nov. 1.

KentuckyOne Health approached HMH about acquiring the practice because HMHs primary service area includes Meade County.

The practice will remain open and continue to serve its more than 9,000 patients during the transition, HMH and KentuckyOne Health officials said in a news release.

The investments came with the boards review of financial data for HMHs 2017 fiscal year that ended in June. HMH Chief Financial Officer Lennis Thompson reported a $1.1 million profit margin, which was $6.8 million less than budgeted.

Even though HMH budgeted for a loss in July, Thompson told board members there was a profit of $86,000.

July is the time of year when volumes are typically at their lowest, he said. People are on vacation. Patients do not schedule elective procedures and people typically are not as sick.

Johnson also gave an update Tuesday on the recently revised smoke and tobacco-free campus rules.

Vice President and Chief Medical Officer John Godfrey said HMH has received some negative feedback from patients, but all in all, it is going well.

Were trying to be as empathetic with the patients as possible, he added.

Johnson said the biggest challenge is with visitors and family members.

Cigarettes cause lung cancer and lung cancer kills. Were in the healing business, he said. We are the largest proponent in health and health care in central Kentucky. Were going to do our part.

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HMH makes $1.2 million investment - Elizabethtown News Enterprise