OGHS Foundation Aims to Stop the Wait

Since 2008, Opelousas General’s annual Paint the Town Pink campaign has promoted education about breast cancer and the importance of early screening and detection. As this community initiative grows, so will the demand for mammography.

The wait time for a screening mammogram is about 1 ½ weeks. However, the wait for diagnostic follow-up is approximately seven weeks. STOP THE WAIT today.

What is Stop the Wait?

The Foundation has created a fundraising goal of $750,000 that will cover the cost of a 3D/Tomography Mammography Unit with Upright Biopsy capabilities. This technology can decrease wait times by up to 70%.

A 3D/Tomography Mammography Unit with Upright Biopsy capabilities allows OGHS to perform mammography screening, diagnostics, and biopsies all in one place with no disruption to patients at any point during their journey. Patients will have a more comfortable experience rather than having to lay prone on a table for extended periods.

The equipment will allow the hospital to accept more regional referrals AND stop local patients from having to travel for care.

Rita Buller Keller No Waiting Room

The foundation created the Stop the Wait campaign in honor of Rita Buller Keller. Rita lived her life selflessly serving others. Her driving focus was aimed at helping people overcome obstacles to succeed. She devoted extra time and energy to ensure every patient received the care that they needed every single day.

Rita endured a 33-month battle with brain cancer. Through it all, she never stopped helping others find their voice in life. Voice meant more to her than the ability to speak and to be heard.

No woman should wait for a mammogram. No woman should wait for follow up diagnostics. Rita would be the first to advocate for providing women the service they need. Contribute to the Rita Buller Keller No Waiting Room and STOP THE WAIT today.