To allow recommended cleaning and avoid overcrowding, many mammography sites reduced daily appointments after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-recommended non-urgent care shutdown ended in July 2020. Availability issues may have led many women to skip their 2020 mammogram. This may cause a March-May 2021 drop in necessary screening – as women who missed their 2020 test may forego their 2021 exam as well. Let’s not let this happen.
The ACR offers this toolkit of free, downloadable and customizable resources to help and your referring providers explain to women why and how it is necessary and safe to #ReturnToCare for yearly mammograms. This toolkit includes:
- Should I Still Get A Mammogram This Year? — Pamphlet explains to women why they should now schedule their mammogram and outlines changes to the screening process due to COVID-19.
- ACR Guidelines for the Resumption of Breast Cancer Screening — Guidance to help providers safely and effectively resume screening following the COVID-19 shutdown.
- Screening Women at Elevated Risk for Breast Cancer — Pamphlet explains to providers which factors increase breast cancer risk and how these women may need to be screened.
- Template letters to send to both patients and referring providers informing them of your updated procedures and precautions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These letters can be used and updated with your letterhead.
- Template 1 - Reassurance Letter
- Template 2 - Return to Screening Letter
- Template 3 - Postponed Screening Letter
- Template 4 - Referring Provider Letter
- Patient Safety Infographic — Share with patients to let them know what they can expect when scheduling their mammogram and how you will help keep them safe.
- Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Handout for Patients — Help patients understand their risk.
- Direct your patients to MammographySavesLives.org for information on resuming mammography safely.
