Hackensack Meridian Health invests in software to identify patients at high risk of developing breast cancer

Comprehensive risk software provides women with a customized screening program to address risk reducing measures, facilitate early detection and potentially prevent breast cancer 

Hackensack Meridian Health, New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive hospital network, has added a new layer of technology to the fight against breast cancer. Patients receiving a mammogram now benefit from advanced software that generates a risk assessment and provides physicians with critical information to better identify those at high risk for breast cancer that may benefit from enhanced or more intense screening.  

Patients receiving a mammogram now benefit from advanced software that generates a risk assessment allowing physicians to create a customized, more personalized screening plan for each woman that helps to reduce risks, facilitate early detection and even potentially prevent breast cancer. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. Furthermore, according to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women next to lung cancer. This makes it imperative for women to not only receive regular mammography screening but, together with their health care providers, to understand their personal risk of developing breast cancer so that they can transition to additional care if necessary.

“Cancer care is always progressing, and at Hackensack Meridian Health, we continue to lead the way in early detection and in giving our patients the best chance if they do face a cancer diagnosis,” said  Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, Chief Executive Officer of Hackensack Meridian Health. “That’s why we are committed to investing in the very latest technology and tools that will give our patients the best shot at having successful outcomes.”

“Breast cancer risk assessment is a priority for Hackensack Meridian Health in our effort to enable early detection of cancer for our patients,” said Michael Horton, Vice-President of Radiology at Hackensack Meridian. “Implementing Volpara Risk Pathways has given us the tools to identify and manage high-risk patients to help us ensure that every patient is getting the care that is right for them.”

“The patient plays a very important role in their own risk assessment by providing details on personal and family history. Once a patient’s personal risk information has been collected, Hackensack Meridian team members can utilize clinical guidelines to accurately identify and triage high-risk patients to follow-up care, including genetic testing and medical imaging such as mammography, ultrasound, or breast MRI,” said Gail E. Starr, M.D., diagnostic radiologist at Hackensack University Medical Center.

“We want all our patients to have the chance to know if they are at high risk, and then together we will make a plan for prevention strategies and devise personalized early detection screening plans,” added Harriet Borofsky, M.D., Medical Director of Breast Imaging, Riverview Medical Center and Bayshore Medical Center.

Volpara Risk Pathways also facilitates convenient integration with advanced genetic counseling offered throughout Hackensack Meridian Health. Once a need for genetic testing or other follow-up care has been determined, the software makes it easy for health care providers to track the patient’s progress, update their risk profile, and generate additional communications, including educational and medical necessity materials.