Bonnie’s Bus offers mammograms

Will visit Ranson Nov.16; Belington Nov. 17; Glenville Nov. 18; and Mannington Nov. 19

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Bonnie’s Bus, a digital mammography center on wheels, will visit Jefferson, Barbour, Gilmer and Marion counties, offering digital mammograms and breast care education to women. A service of WVU Healthcare, Bonnie’s Bus will be at the Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic in Ranson from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 16; at Belington Community Medical Center from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 17; at Federal Correctional Institute Gilmer in Glenville from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 18.; and at the Marion County Senior Citizens Inc.-North Marion Senior Center in Mannington from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 19.

The mammograms are not free, but billing to insurers is provided.  Women who lack insurance may be matched to government or nonprofit charities. A physician’s order is needed for a mammogram.

For a Bonnie’s Bus appointment at the Eastern Panhandle Free Clinic call 304-724-6091; at Belington Community Medical Center call 304-823-2800; and at Marion County Senior Citizens Inc.- North Marion Senior Center call the Marion County Health Department at 304-366-3360.  The Federal Correctional Institute Gilmer will offer screenings to employees from 8 a.m. to noon and to the public from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Employees should call 304-626-2500, ext.1079 to schedule an appointment.  The public should call 877-287-2272.

During its first year on the road in 2009, the 40-foot long Bonnie’s Bus travelled 9,000 miles, visited 20 counties and provided nearly 400 mammography screenings. The goal for 2010 is to make at least 60 site visits throughout West Virginia with a focus on communities that have high breast cancer mortality rates.

Bonnie’s Bus represents a statewide partnership of women’s groups, clinicians, public health professionals and other community leaders working to help reduce the number of deaths from breast cancer in West Virginia.

Made possible by a generous gift from West Virginia natives Jo and Ben Statler to WVU’s Mary Babb Randolph Cancer Center, Bonnie’s Bus is operated by WVU Hospitals. The bus is named after Mrs. Statler's late mother, Bonnie Wells Wilson.

For information on Bonnie’s Bus, see www.hsc.wvu.edu/mbrcc/bonnie.

Attention reporters and editors: If you are interested in covering Bonnie’s Bus when it visits your area, please call the HSC News Service in Morgantown at 304-293-7087 in advance. Out of respect for patient privacy and HIPAA, please do not show up at the location without scheduling an appropriate time for interviews and/or photos.