Eastern Plumas Health Care’s Auxiliary has donated $100,000 towards the purchase of the hospital’s new digital mammography equipment. At a recent Auxiliary luncheon, EPHC’s Chief Executive Officer, Tom Hayes, explained the hospital’s drive to offer digital mammography to EPHC’s patients.

Perhaps the most significant improvement over film mammography, he said, is that results will be reported within 24 hours. Digital imaging is also much quicker, so the process of taking the mammogram is easier on patients. Further, digital images are easily stored in a patient’s medical record, making the comparison of a new mammogram with previous ones in order to assess changes a simple process.

The hospital’s Foundation has already made a significant donation towards the digital mammography purchase, and will again this year with the combined EPHC Foundation and Swing for a Cure golf tournament. Digital mammography equipment costs around $300,000, however, and Hayes is pushing for a purchase of the equipment by mid-June.

He made a formal request to the Auxiliary at the meeting for the $100,000, which was followed by a motion by Kathy Loretz that the Auxiliary authorize the donation. The motion passed unanimously.

President Kathy Davis attributed the Auxiliary’s ability to make such a large donation to the success of the hospital’s thrift store, Nifty Thrifty. “That’s why Nifty Thrifty is here. We make [the money] to spend it and do something good with it,” she said.

After Connie Kunsman reported that the Nifty Thrifty had made $8,720 last month, or $400 – $600 per day, Davis noted, “It’s amazing in our tiny community that we can make that kind of money at the Thrift Store in Portola.