ROCKPORT — After almost six months of construction and workflow changes, the renovation to the Mammography Suite at MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital is complete, expanding access to essential imaging services for patients.

The upgraded suite now houses two mammography exam rooms, a new ultrasound room and redesigned technologist and bone density scanning (DXA) spaces. This new layout improves access and efficiency and enhances patient privacy and flow throughout the suite. The new mammography machine was funded in part by philanthropic support, according to MaineHealth, in a news release.

“This renovation is ultimately about improving access for our patients,” said Susan Walker, director of imaging at MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo hospitals. “Last year we were booking appointments six months out but now, with the upgraded space, we are able to offer appointments in as early as a week.” 

The increased capacity will allow the department to make significant progress in further reducing appointment backlogs due to the growing demand for imaging services, according to MaineHealth. With these new spaces, the department anticipates scheduling an additional 320 mammography patients, 75 ultrasound patients and 30 DXA patients per month.

Construction on the project began in early March, with final touches completed at the end of July and beginning of August, including installation of the new mammography machine and privacy glass in the patient-changing areas.

“We had to sacrifice the private waiting room in the suite to accommodate the second mammography room, but we knew we had to increase access,” said Walker. “The redesigned space offers much more privacy and efficiency for patients who need coordinated mammograms and ultrasounds. Our new bone density room is also large enough to accommodate wheelchairs and patients who require a portable patient lift.”

Throughout the construction project, team members from MaineHealth Pen Bay and Waldo hospitals worked together to maintain imaging services while navigating an active construction environment. Care team members traveled between the two hospitals as needed to ensure patients continued to receive timely care, according to MaineHealth.

“We were able to share care team members across both sites and have them where they were needed,” said Walker.” I’m very proud of how everyone rose to the challenge, and together we were able to increase the number of patients we served during the project.”

For more information about diagnostic imaging, please visit Diagnostic Imaging | Radiology | MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital.

MaineHealth is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, “Working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,” and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. MaineHealth includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, MaineHealth provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. MaineHealth hospitals include MaineHealth Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, MaineHealth Franklin Hospital in Farmington, MaineHealth Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, MaineHealth Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, MaineHealth Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., MaineHealth Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, MaineHealth Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, MaineHealth Stephens Hospital in Norway and MaineHealth Waldo Hospital in Belfast. MaineHealth also includes the MaineHealth Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, MaineHealth Behavioral Health in Westbrook, MaineHealth Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, the MaineHealth Medical Group and MaineHealth NorDx in Scarborough. MaineHealth affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville. It is also a significant stakeholder in the MaineHealth Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.