Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital in DeKalb could have a new breast health center by the fall.
Officials with Northwestern Medicine say the center is meant to increase breast cancer screening rates in DeKalb County. That rate is 65%, compared to a statewide average of 78%. The center will be a buildout of 6,000 square feet on the hospital office building's first floor.
NM officials say it will feature a full suite of screening equipment, such as 3D mammogram machines, as well as equipment for wide breast ultrasounds, bone density measurement, and stereotactic biopsy (taking tissue for analysis after imaging the breast from two dimensional planes).
Staff will also be trained under guidelines from the National Accreditation Program of Breast Centers. NM officials hope that this, along with the facility itself, can improve breast cancer detection and survival rates countywide. Construction begins this month and Kishwaukee Hospital aims to open the center in October.