Pallone: House Approves Funding for JFK Medical Center

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced today that the U.S. House of Representatives approved a Fiscal Year (FY) 2010 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill that includes his request for $300,000 for JFK Medical Center, Edison.

The funds will go towards the purchase of a complete full field digital (FFD) mammography system for the Breast Center at JFK Medical Center. The technology takes electronic images of the breast, which are captured on a computer. These images are much clearer than regular images, which lead to improved screening for young women and women with dense breast tissue. The technology will help serve a large and diverse central New Jersey population.

The advantages of FFD over traditional mammography include improved sensitivity and specificity, shorter examination times, overall less radiation use, and electronic recording. The acquisition of a digital mammography unit helps the JFK Breast Center uphold its mission of providing high quality care, utilizing the latest technology available.

"With so many women affected by breast cancer, it is critical that we have the most up-to-date technology to ensure early detection," Pallone said. "I commend my colleagues in the House for recognizing the need for this important project. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial to the success of the treatment and positively impacts long-term survival rates. It is one area of women's health where the use of new technology can really make a difference."