Oct. 27, 2025

This piece is sponsored by Avera Health.

Because one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime and because early detection makes all the difference in outcomes, Avera doesn’t wait until all patients can come to the breast center for their mammogram appointment.

“Our mobile mammo truck allows us to take mammography appointments to them,” said Jasele Brue, an mammography technologist who has been involved in Avera mammography care since 1993.

Avera has been offering mobile mammography for over 30 years, starting with a van and then a modified motor home in the early days. Just recently, Avera replaced its truck and trailer based out of Sioux Falls with all the comforts, technology, accessibility, safety features and amenities available in clinic locations.

The new truck offers 3D digital mammography technology, two private dressing rooms and a private suite for the screening. It’s heated and air conditioned to be comfortable in any weather. Staff members deliver care in accordance with the same safety and quality standards. “Once the patient is in the truck trailer, they get the feel of being in the clinic,” said Jacqueline Gilbert, Avera breast health manager.

The truck travels to 75 sites on a regular schedule in South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Some sites are rural hospitals and clinics, some are public locations like a library or senior center, and numerous sites are employers and businesses. The truck is out Monday through Friday and an occasional Saturday for a special event. There’s always room on the schedule to add more business sites.

The Avera Breast Center works with a contact person at a business to set up scheduling in advance; however, walk-ins are welcome as long as they have seen a provider within the past three years. The patient’s insurance is billed, just as at the clinic, and electronic medical records make this even easier.

“It’s a great service for employees. Instead of having to take a day or half-day off to go to their appointment, they can get their mammogram on the truck, and it takes them away from their desk or the line for only about 15 minutes,” Brue said.

In rural locations, including reservation communities, women otherwise might need to drive an hour or more to access mammography services. The truck is self-contained with power, so there’s no need to “plug in” when it arrives. “All we need is a few parking spots,” Brue said.

“For those women who are always busy with work, family and activities, we’re there for them,” Gilbert said.

Mobile mammo is part of a wide continuum of specialized breast care. This includes a full range of diagnostic tools, including breast ultrasound; MRI; contrast enhanced mammography; and ultrasound, CEM or stereotactic breast biopsy.

Avera’s breast program offers patient navigation by phone and in person, fellowship-trained breast surgeons, the only breast-specific oncologists in the region, breast radiologists, a team of genetic counselors and a high-risk breast program to help support people through whatever journey they are on. Saturday mammogram appointments are offered in Sioux Falls to further help women find time to schedule this important screening.

“The mobile mammo program focuses on our mission at Avera, especially in terms of providing access to patients, and that’s the why behind our program,” said Tara Kocourek, director of breast health. If mammogram results are abnormal, patients are referred for more diagnostic testing.

“At the Avera Breast Center, our team strives to provide the best service and care for our patients no matter the diagnosis.”

Learn more about cancer services at Avera.