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Breast Center To Open

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By YVETTE C. HAMMETT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 5, 2007

BRANDON - The Brandon area is about to get its first comprehensive breast health center, which will offer a wide range of services from initial mammograms to surgical consultation, all under one roof.

Brandon Regional Hospital expects to open the center Jan. 2, said Mike Fencel, the hospital's chief executive officer.

The center will be in the Brandon Medical Plaza, across Oakfield Drive from the hospital, and will be run by Hospital Corporation of America's Image One Network. HCA is the hospital's parent company.

The $2 million center will offer imaging services, including diagnostic mammography, breast MRI, ultrasound, CT scans and basic X-ray. It will also have equipment for stereotactic biopsy, which is less invasive than surgical biopsy and can be performed in an outpatient setting.

If a patient receives mammography results that require further review, that can be done on site, said hospital spokeswoman Melonie Hall. If surgery is necessary, the hospital has a panel of breast surgeons to provide consultation and services. A nurse coordinator will serve as a patient "navigator" to help coordinate care, Hall said.

The hospital expects to host an open house for the medical community and a grand opening for the public in mid-January.

In addition to the new breast care center, Brandon Regional Hospital also has a clinical laboratory accreditation, an accredited chest pain center and offers high-tech cardiac scanning, with a 64-slice CT scanner.

The 367-bed acute care center also runs a Heart and Vascular Institute, the Spine Center of West Florida and Baby Place, with level III neonatal intensive care.

Reporter Yvette C. Hammett can be reached at (813) 657-4532 or yhammett@tampatrib.com.

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