Montefiore Einstein has opened a new state-of-the-art breast care center at its Hutchinson Campus. The Montefiore Einstein Breast Care Center, completely integrated with Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, is home to some of the nation’s top breast cancer physicians, surgeons and researchers. The facility offers access to advanced imaging screening studies, minimally invasive surgery, and plastic and reconstructive surgery. The Center’s offerings also include a breast cancer prevention and lymphedema prevention program for high-risk patients, genetic counseling, medical and radiation oncology services, nutrition counseling, and access to Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD) wellness and support programming. The Breast Care Center aims to provide every patient with an unparalleled level of evaluation and care in a comfortable, patient-centered environment designed to minimize stress and reduce timelines of care.
Montefiore Einstein Opens the Doors to Its New, State-of-the-Art Breast Care Center at Its Hutchinson Campus
The center offers comprehensive breast care with the latest mammography technology available in a tranquil, beautifully designed environment.
“Every square foot of the new space, every procedure being performed and every clinician there has a single purpose: advancing our ability to deliver the most personalized care to our patients,” said Sheldon M. Feldman, MD, Chief, Division of Breast Surgery & Breast Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery; Director, Breast Cancer Services, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Professor, Surgery, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “By tailoring every element to our patients’ needs, we will increase screenings and the number of minimally invasive treatment options for our community. Our goal is to reduce the incidence of late-stage cancers in New York.”
At the Breast Care Center, when someone has a breast lump, abnormal mammogram or concerning ultrasound result, surgeons and radiologists will immediately have a consultation with the patient, and together as a team, determine next steps in real time. This patient-centered approach reduces the need for people to return for potentially repetitive appointments or procedures. For those diagnosed with breast cancer, this care delivery model ensures a timelier diagnosis and shortened time to begin treatment.
The space is designed in pods, with clinicians in a mission control–style work area, surrounded by patient rooms. Instead of patients being moved from one specialist to the next, in and out of exam rooms and gowns, they are able to stay in one place as clinicians and other providers come to them.
“We wanted to create a safe place where women and men can come and be cared for in a tranquil and compassionate environment,” said Dr. Feldman. “When you come to the Breast Care Center, you don’t feel like you’re coming to a medical facility, but more like you are going to a spa.”
Tailoring Technology to Patient Needs
The Breast Care Center has the latest 3D tomosynthesis mammography technology, with five dedicated imaging machines under one roof. This technology includes advanced features such as contrast-enhanced mammography, which uses low-dose X-rays and iodinated contrast dye to highlight areas of unusual blood flow. This enhanced capability helps clinicians see lesions and masses that could otherwise go undetected.
“For many women, scheduling a breast exam means having to take off work, and then coming to an appointment that they feel anxious about,” said Laura J. Hodges, MD, Director, Breast Imaging & Interventions, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Assistant Professor, Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine. “Having the latest breast care technologies like the Senographe Pristina™ 3D mammography system, which gives women a handheld remote to self-adjust breast compression levels during their mammograms, enables women to regain a sense of control.”
One of the Center’s goals is to reduce the incidence of late-stage breast cancers, which have a five-year survival rate of 31%, according to the National Cancer Institute. In contrast, stage 1 (early) breast cancers are highly treatable with a five-year survival rate of over 99%.
Commitment to Clinical Excellence
The new facility reflects Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center’s commitment to excellence in patient care. With over 320 active clinical trials, including research on breast conservation techniques, Breast Care Center patients have access to leading-edge cancer treatments.
“This beautiful new Center exemplifies the commitment of our breast team in advancing patient care,” said Susan Green-Lorenzen, RN, MSN, System Senior Vice President, Operations at Montefiore Einstein. “Screening is the best form of early diagnosis, and it is done most effectively when barriers to access are tackled head-on. From parking to how new technology is embedded during appointments, to the linkages among our clinical team members and our remarkable BOLD support program, we are truly advancing what it means to address the comprehensive needs of our community.”
New York City Council Member Marjorie Velazquez, who joined the Center’s opening celebration, praised the plans to deploy a mobile mammography van for community-based breast cancer screenings and outreach.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Breast Care Center was attended by Montefiore Einstein’s Philip O. Ozuah, MD, PhD, President and CEO; Susan Green-Lorenzen, RN, MSN; Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, System Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer; Dr. Feldman; and numerous physicians and faculty instrumental in the Center’s opening, including Edward Chu, MD, MMS, Vice President, Cancer Medicine, Montefiore Medicine, Director, Montefiore Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Interim Chairman, Department of Oncology, Professor, Oncology, Medicine and Molecular Pharmacology, and Carol and Roger Einiger Professor of Cancer Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine; and Judy Yee, MD, University Chair, Radiology, Montefiore Einstein, and Professor, Radiology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
The Montefiore Einstein Breast Care Center is located at our Hutchinson Campus on the 7th floor of 1250 Waters Place, Tower 1, in the Bronx. If you or a loved one needs a breast cancer screening or help navigating a breast cancer diagnosis, make an appointment at 844-BREAST6 (844-273-2786).
