COVID's IMPACT

Source : ehrn.org

Triage for Breast Cancer Patients was revisited and priorities care for patients at risk because of the pandemic. Many imaging modalities were put on hold and saw a downturn in activity.

94%

Decline in weekly screenings in March 2020.

-29%

Difference in screening imaging in US compared to June 2019 baseline.

285k

285,000 estimated screenings missed or postponed between March and June 2020.

Mammography imaging was one of the most impacted imaging modalities.
The decrease in activity fluctuates depending on the type of practice, where independent practices were mostly hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic Breast Cancer Consortium.
Independent practices saw on average their revenue decrease 3x more than primary practices in Massachusetts.

BREAST SCREENING AI MOBILE UNIT

COVID-19 has caused one of the biggest crises in healthcare mainly caused by a decrease in activity which directly impacted outpatients and imaging volumes. To address COVID-19’s challenges to practices, practices had to undergo some fundamental changes :

Staff Reduction

Telemedicine

Saftey of data

Workflow

Optimization

COVID accelerated in a way the new normal of tomorrow where breast screening will mainly rely on outpatients being screened outside of hospitals and where direct diagnosis will be supported by telemedicine.

With this new structure adopted by larger practices, BostonMeditech group’s mission is to exploit this new trend and strengthen it by supporting Artificial Intelligence (AI) for accurate diagnosis and could reduce the workload of radiologists as a first reader.

With this in mind, we devote ourselves to build our first Mobile Unit with AI support to prevent and cache up on the missed screenings on state level. The efficiency of our program relies on our network of partners, hospitals that would pursue further treatment if our AI and radiologists suspect suspicious breast findings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who should get a mammogram?

The American Cancer Society recommends that women aged 45–54 get mammograms every year, and women 55 and older can switch to a mammogram every other year or continue annual screenings. Women at high risk (due to family history or genetic factors) may need to start screening earlier. Talk to your doctor about what's right for you.

Is a mammogram painful?

Some women experience brief discomfort during a mammogram because the breast is compressed between two plates. The compression is necessary to get a clear image, but it lasts only a few seconds per image. Most women describe the sensation as uncomfortable rather than painful. Scheduling your mammogram the week after your period, when breasts are less tender, can help reduce discomfort.

How does AI improve mammogram accuracy?

Our AI system analyzes mammogram images in under 2 seconds to flag suspicious areas for radiologist review. Studies show that AI-assisted reading increases radiologist sensitivity from an average of 87% to approximately 89%, while also helping to reduce false-positive rates. The AI acts as a first reader, helping experienced radiologists focus their attention on the areas most likely to need further evaluation.

What happens if something suspicious is found?

If our AI and radiologist identify potentially concerning findings in your mammogram, our care team will contact you directly using the information you provided. We will guide you through the next steps, which may include additional imaging (such as an ultrasound or MRI) or a biopsy at one of our partner hospitals. Finding something suspicious does not necessarily mean cancer — many findings turn out to be benign upon further evaluation.

2nd

1 in 8

Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.

Symptomes and signs

Breast pain

Breast self-exam

For a more exhaustive picture on early breast cancer detection, please click on the attached link of the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc.

GENERAL STATEMENT

25% of disagreement between radiologists, with comparable training and experiences, because of rendering different diagnoses.

20% of disagreement with themselves, when presented with same cases a month later

OVERVIEW STATISTICS

Average sensitivity of radiologists in the US

False positive rate for a mammogram (no history)

False positive rate over a period of 10 yearly mammograms

Average sensitivity of radiologists supported by AI systems in the US.

COVID's IMPACT

Triage for Breast Cancer Patients was revisited and priorities care for patients at risk because of the pandemic. Many imaging modalities were put on hold and saw a downturn in activity.

94%

-29%

285k

BREAST SCREENING AI MOBILE UNIT