For many years at Bay Radiology, every patient who came in for a mammogram met with the physician to review her results before leaving. It’s something our patients have come to appreciate, and we understand the comfort of receiving an answer before walking out the door.
But breast imaging is changing.
There is now a significant shortage of breast imaging radiologists across the country, while the number of women who need breast imaging continues to grow. At Bay Radiology, we’re adapting to these changes in a way that allows us to continue providing timely screening while preserving physician availability for patients who need hands-on diagnostic care.
One important part of that change is offering more Image & Leave (INL) screening mammogram appointments.
If you’re due or overdue for your mammogram, here’s why we hope you’ll consider one.
Why Is There a Shortage of Breast Imagers?
The shortage of breast imaging specialists accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Physical examinations, diagnostic evaluations, ultrasounds, and biopsies require hands-on patient care. During the early pandemic, when protective equipment and vaccines were in short supply, as many as a third of breast imagers left the field.
Many did not return. Others have retired, and fewer new radiologists are choosing to specialize in breast imaging, in part because of uncertainty about the future role of artificial intelligence in mammography.
At the same time, more women need breast imaging.
The result is a growing imbalance between the number of patients who need care and the number of fellowship-trained breast imaging radiologists available to provide it.
Breast Imaging Is Increasingly Being Read Remotely
The pandemic also accelerated the development of systems that allow radiologists to interpret mammograms from home. As facilities compete for a limited number of breast imagers, remote reading has become an important recruiting tool.
Today, even major academic and hospital systems allow breast imaging radiologists to work remotely, including during diagnostic evaluations. At these facilities, a patient with a breast concern will have her mammogram and ultrasound performed by technologists, with the images and examination findings then transmitted to a radiologist working elsewhere.
That is not the model we have chosen for Bay Radiology.
When a patient comes to us with a breast symptom or an abnormality that requires further evaluation, we believe there is value in having the physician physically present for that diagnostic care.
Why Bay Radiology Is Offering More Image & Leave Appointments
Bay Radiology has been fortunate to work with outstanding fellowship-trained breast imagers, including Dr. Nikki Tirada, Dr. Michelle Kladakis, and Dr. Maria Schmidt.
But the national changes in breast imaging have affected us as well. Dr. Tirada transitioned to a work-from-home position with the University of Maryland, while Dr. Kladakis now primarily reads remotely for a practice in West Virginia and travels there periodically to perform biopsies. Dr. Schmidt will also be spending less time at Bay Radiology as she spends more time with family in New York.
As a result, our physician coverage will be more limited for the foreseeable future.
That makes it especially important to preserve physician time for patients who need diagnostic care, including women who:
- Have a breast symptom such as a lump or nipple discharge
- Have an area on a screening mammogram requiring additional evaluation
- Need a physical examination, targeted ultrasound, biopsy, or other hands-on care
Image & Leave screening helps us accomplish that while keeping routine screening accessible.
What Is an Image & Leave Mammogram?
An Image & Leave screening mammogram allows you to have your routine screening performed without waiting in the office while the radiologist interprets your images.
You come in, have your mammogram, and continue with your day.
At Bay Radiology:
- No referral is needed for an Image & Leave screening mammogram, age 40+.
- Appointments are currently available as soon as this week.
- Your mammogram will be read and your results provided within one day.
- If additional imaging is needed, we reserve appointments over the next few days (often the next day) so you can return promptly. This is different from other facilities where it is often weeks before you can return.
The quality of your screening mammogram does not change. Image & Leave simply slightly changes when you receive the results and helps us to insure that our physician will be available if you ever need diagnostic care.
What If My Mammogram Shows Something?
This is one of the most common concerns patients have about Image & Leave.
A screening mammogram generally results in one of two recommendations: the examination is normal, or additional evaluation is needed.
Approximately 10% of screening mammograms require additional imaging. Importantly, being called back does not mean you have breast cancer. About 90% of the time, nothing further is needed after the additional images are obtained.
For the smaller group of patients who do need additional evaluation, we deliberately protect appointments in our schedule. If we see something questionable on your screening mammogram, we can generally bring you back within the next few days for the additional imaging you need.
This allows us to keep routine screening moving while making sure our physicians are available when there is a specific question that needs to be answered.
Why Wait Months for Same-Day Results?
We know many patients prefer receiving their results before leaving Bay Radiology. But right now, there is a significant difference in appointment availability.
We have many Image & Leave screening appointments available this week, while screening appointments that include same-day results are currently booking many months in advance.
If you are due for your mammogram, we don’t want you postponing important screening simply because you are waiting for a same-day-results appointment.
If your Image & Leave mammogram is normal, you’ll receive your results within one day. If something requires another look, we’ll get you back quickly. For approximately 90% of screening patients, that additional visit will not be necessary.
Most importantly, delaying screening can delay detection.
If you’re overdue, please come. Early detection saves lives.
And This October, There’s an Extra Reason to Come In
During October, we’re making Image & Leave appointments a little more fun.
Every patient who comes to Bay Radiology for an Image & Leave screening mammogram during October will be entered into our weekly prize drawings. Prizes will include:
- Beautiful suede purses
- Gift cards to local businesses such as The Cottage, Park Tavern, and The Point Crab House
- Amazon gift cards, an option for patients who live farther from Bay Radiology
It’s our way of adding something fun to an appointment that is already an important investment in your health.
How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing Mammography
Image & Leave appointments will also become increasingly useful as Bay Radiology begins incorporating artificial intelligence into breast imaging.
AI technology for breast cancer detection continues to improve, and we plan to add it at Bay Radiology within the next year. But some of the most exciting developments go beyond helping radiologists identify cancer that may already be present.
New AI technologies are being developed that can analyze mammograms for imaging patterns associated with a woman’s future breast cancer risk—potentially identifying elevated risk years before a cancer develops.
Traditionally, breast cancer risk assessment has relied heavily on factors such as personal and family history. Emerging AI tools may be able to identify information contained within the mammogram itself that is not necessarily apparent from the images alone.
One such product has already received FDA approval, but the currently available technology requires an additional radiation dose. That is not something we plan to adopt at Bay Radiology. Instead, we are waiting for newer technologies in development that may provide this type of information without additional radiation exposure.
Why AI May Make Image & Leave Even More Convenient
When Bay Radiology adds AI, there will be an additional processing step. Mammogram images will need to be securely sent to the cloud for AI analysis before that information can be incorporated into the radiologist’s interpretation.
That takes time and may not be practical during a same-day screening visit.
Image & Leave allows us to complete your mammogram, process the images through the appropriate technology, and give the radiologist time to carefully review all available information—without requiring you to remain in the office.
And while AI may become an increasingly powerful tool in breast imaging, it does not replace the breast imaging physician.
Patients will continue to need physical examinations, additional mammographic views, targeted ultrasound, biopsies, and direct physician involvement. By shifting more routine screenings to Image & Leave, we can embrace new technology while preserving physician availability for exactly those patients who need it.
The Most Important Thing Is Not to Delay Your Mammogram
We understand the appeal of leaving your appointment with an answer in hand. We’ve provided that experience to Bay Radiology patients for many years.
But the breast imaging landscape is changing, and we want to adapt without compromising what matters most: getting women screened on time and making sure physician expertise is available when a patient needs additional diagnostic care.
Right now, we have plenty of Image & Leave screening appointments available.
If you’re due or overdue, please don’t wait months for a same-day-results appointment.
Come in. Have your mammogram. Go about your day.
We’ll read your images and provide your results within one day. If everything is normal, you’re done. If something needs a closer look, we have protected appointments available so we can bring you back promptly.
Takeaway
Image & Leave mammograms allow Bay Radiology to make routine breast cancer screening more accessible while preserving physician availability for patients with breast symptoms, abnormal screening findings, and other diagnostic needs.
With appointments available this week, no referral needed, results within one day, and rapid follow-up when additional imaging is necessary, there’s no reason to put off an overdue screening while waiting for a same-day-results appointment.
And as new AI technology becomes part of breast imaging, Image & Leave will allow us to incorporate these tools thoughtfully while continuing to provide the physician-led care our patients expect.
Early detection saves lives. If you’re due, please come.
📍 Located in Arnold, Maryland
✨ No referral needed for screening mammograms
🗓️ Image & Leave appointments available this week
⏱️ Results provided within one day
Schedule your Image & Leave mammogram today