Our institution has rapidly and successfully expanded screening mammography. Higher mammography volumes have been associated with increased use of non-VA breast care services and increased time to definitive treatment. Appropriate counseling regarding BCT was consistently documented, and mastectomy in BCT-eligible patients was largely the result of patient preference or clinical/social factors. Our data suggest that as patient volumes increase with intensified screening, VA hospitals may benefit from acquiring a full complement of on-site breast care services rather than improving flow between VA hospitals and non-VA breast care centers having specialized resources.
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