Mobile Mammography Unit Detects Early and Saves Lives

Yale New Haven Health’s mobile mammography unit was the first unit in the country equipped with both 3D mammography and screening ultrasound. 

It is staffed by a mammography technologist and mammography ultrasound technologist, along with a mammography assistant. As with images taken at YNHH’s brick-and-mortar sites, mammogram and breast ultrasound images taken in the mobile unit are electronically sent to YNHH radiologists for reading. YNHH’s is the first mobile unit in the country to add 5G for transmitting images at a high speed. 

State-of-the-art 3D Tomosynthesis mammography and breast ultrasound screenings offer convenient access to the same high-level of care patients would receive at all YNHH locations. 

“We have world-class imaging at the hospital; we needed to extend that to the communities,” said Jacquelyn Crenshaw, senior manager, Breast Imaging. “This is part of Yale New Haven Health’s mission.” 

The unit spends five days a week visiting community clinics, shopping plazas, corporations, senior housing complexes, health fairs and many other locations and events. 

The community appreciates being able to get a mammogram and ultrasound within an hour, close to where they live or work, Crenshaw said. That convenience became particularly important during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic when many patients could not come to the hospital. 

Online educational lectures about breast health are also available upon request. Simply inquire about them when you reserve Mobile Mammography and Breast Imaging Services. 

From October 2020 to December 2021, unit staff saw more than 4,000 patients, compared to the average 1,000 patients a year. 

Crenshaw agreed the biggest advantage of the mobile mammography unit is expanding people’s access to advanced technology, expert staff and physicians and vital information about their health. 

Services can be reserved, at no cost, by businesses, senior centers, healthcare facilities, health fairs and other locations throughout New Haven, Fairfield, Middlesex and New London counties Monday through Friday (weekend availability and hours may vary). 

To reserve the Mobile Mammography and Breast Ultrasound at your location, please call (203) 285-5046 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or email [email protected]. 

Screening Eligibility Requirements: 

• Age 40 or older with average risk of breast cancer (general female population without strong family history or known breast cancer) 
• No known breast problems such as lumps, redness, or swelling 
• No personal history of breast cancer 
• Not pregnant 
• Has not nursed (breastfed or pumped) in the past five months 
• Had a normal mammogram within the past year 

To schedule your mammography screening, call: (203) 688-1010 or (833) 772-0003. 

Locations:

• 8 Devine St. 
  North Haven, CT 
  
  
• 1 Long Wharf Drive 
  New Haven, CT 
  
  
• 633 Middlesex Turnpike 
  Old Saybrook, CT 

For uninsured or underinsured women:
If you are not insured, please call (203) 688-2219 or (203) 867-5436 to enroll in the Connecticut Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Screening Program (CBCCEDP). This program will cover the cost of the screening mammogram and dense breast ultrasound (if needed) at one of our approved locations.