Radiology and community-based healthcare: building a coalition against breast cancer

When the authors recognized the need for a breast cancer support group in their community, their hospitals were engaged in a highly-publicized battle over major expenditures and duplication of services. Despite that, they built a coalition of hospitals, volunteers, community agencies, businesses and private volunteers to decrease mortality from breast cancer through education and increased access to mammography. The authors describe the process they used, including special outreach to minority and impoverished women. Nielsen and Donlea believe that radiology services must be adapted to participate in this kind of community-based healthcare.