Published: August 05, 2008 11:32 pm      

Breast center showcases latest technology

WINDBER — Windber Medical Center on Tuesday showed off its latest technology at the Joyce Murtha Breast Care Center to the husband of the facility’s namesake.

U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, was treated to a demonstration of the facility’s 3.0-Tesla, 3T, MRI unit.

The equipment can identify breast abnormalities while they are still too small to be seen by other diagnostic methods, and provides twice the strength and speed of existing MRI equipment.

According to Windber Medical Center officials, the facility’s 3T MRI is the only one in western Pennsylvania being used for breast cancer detection.

“It’s a significant difference because this equipment allows us to save the lives of the 10 percent of women who would otherwise go undetected,” said F. Nicholas Jacobs, CEO of Windber Medical Center. “And this isn’t the type of service that other operations can simply flip a switch and begin to offer.”

Murtha said he was excited by the demonstration and with the work being performed at the breast care center as well as other facilities on the campus.

“It’s a perfect example of what innovative people can accomplish when they’re given a hand,” Murtha said. “I was impressed by the MRI demonstration and capabilities, and I’m proud of the work they’re doing here.”

Windber Medical Center leadership also spoke at length with Murtha regarding preventative medical care.

The group stressed to the congressman that the U.S. is well behind other countries in promoting preventative medicine that can ultimately save billions of dollars and millions of lives.

“We really wanted to impress upon him the importance of providing better preventative care in this country,” Jacobs said.

“I know it’s always been a big concern of the congressman, and we believe he can bring some needed attention to this cause.”