PinkDrive, South Africa’s First Mobile Mammography Units Implement PowerServer PACS for Their “Early Detection Save Lives” Breast Cancer Program
Toronto, Ontario, Canada (PRWEB) June 16, 2014 -- PinkDrive, a non-profit organization dependent on donations, reached out to Bidvest in efforts to provide free mammography screening to rural areas where women can’t afford to go see doctors. They are a Public Benefit Organization powering South Africa’s first mobile mammography and educational unit for the purpose of supporting the organization’s mission of “Early Detection Saves Lives.” PinkDrive is proudly associated with Bidvest, one of their biggest sponsors, and RamSoft’s exclusive distributor in South Africa - Konica Minolta Medical South Africa (KMMSA). PinkDrive deployed RamSoft’s imaging workflow technology to facilitate immediate quality control of each study and accelerate its distribution to interpreting radiologists for diagnostic reporting.
“We are honored to be part of this effort. It’s a great cause and I’m thrilled that the patients will be able to have faster turnaround times on reporting with our software,” says Marilyn Solano, director of sales and marketing for RamSoft. Knowing that we are part of something as vital as early cancer detection for the less fortunate women, and getting the attention they deserve is gratifying.
PinkDrive’s first Mammo truck described as a Doctor’s Room on Wheels, was used to teach women how to self-examine. Clinical exams are conducted on the spot and whomever needed it could get a mammogram for free. The new Mammo truck launched in March 2014, named “Noelsi” (after the founder of PinkDrive ) Noelene Kotschan, is now equipped not only for mammography but cervical cancer testing as well. This is another first for South Africa. PinkDrive has realized that it is imperative to add additional services and address Women’s Health Issues. Partners are now being sought to participate with them when they go into communities, and offer HIV/AIDS screening, TB Screening, Diabetes, Blood Pressure, Hypertension screening, General Health Messaging etc. This will truly demonstrate collaboration of likeminded business organisations and NGO’s. “It is unforgivable to allow women to die from preventable ailments. Breast cancer can be treated once detected early. Women of Africa arise let us fight stigma and save many lives for a nation without women is as good as no nation. Women hold keys to the existence of the world, but need the help of organisations such as RamSoft, Konica Minolta Medical a proudly pink Bidvest company,” says Noelene Kotschan.
Most of the equipment for the Mammo side has been sponsored by Bidvest and supplied by KMMSA. The Mammo unit was donated by a local Radiologist, Dr Louella Ritz. They have also joined forces with government health to aid in doing mammograms at hospitals that do not have the necessary facilities.
About RamSoft, Inc.: RamSoft, a Canadian IT software and services company with 20 years of experience, is dedicated to developing and delivering cost effective RIS, PACS and Teleradiology solutions for its clients in the U.S. and around the world. The company’s goal is to enable imaging facilities, radiology centers, and ambulatory and acute-care practices to continue offering superior patient care while improving workflow efficiencies. RamSoft, Inc. offers a wide range of affordable and feature-rich solutions such as the PowerServer™ Series of PACS, RIS/PACS, Teleradiology, and patient information management systems. For more information, visit http://www.RamSoft.com.
About Konica Minolta Medical South Africa: Konica Minolta Medical South Africa (KMMSA), wholly owned by the Bidvest Group, is the sole importer and distributor of the Konica Minolta range of x-ray machines, computed radiography (CR) equipment and the exceptional wireless flat panel detector – AeroDR – digital radiography (DR) system, into South Africa. Konica Minolta Medical South Africa’s head office is based in Johannesburg and 17 branches support Konica Minolta’s distribution network. For more information, visit http://www.kmmsa.com.
Alicia Carbo-Guha, Ramsoft, Inc., http://www.RamSoft.com, +1 (909) 481-5800 Ext: 111, [email protected]
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