NAGS HEAD, N.C. — October 1, 2025 — Outer Banks Health (OBH) has a new, state-of-the-art mammogram screening machine, Senograph Pristina 3D with Efficiency Suite 2. This advanced screening technology offers higher accuracy in diagnostic performance, especially in dense breast tissue, by using 3D imaging to reduce the overlap of tissues, which can hide abnormalities in 2D scans. With a 40% higher cancer detection rate and the ability to find more invasive, life-threatening tumors, 3D screening mammography offers unmatched clarity and peace of mind. The new Pristina takes images faster than 2D and supports greater patient comfort due to an ergonomic and patient-comfort-forward design that gives patients the option to apply the pressure themselves.
“Outer Banks Health is committed to our community’s health and well-being. That’s why we invest in state-of-the-art technology. We also respond when the community provides feedback on our services. In addition to our new equipment, it is easier than ever to get an appointment for your mammogram, and our waiting room is now warm, welcoming and ready for your next visit,” shared Amy Montgomery, executive director of OBH.
OBH has refined its mammogram scheduling system, creating an additional 30 appointments per week, with plans to increase this number further. The wait time for a mammogram is less than one month, and patients are now able to self-schedule through the MyChart patient portal if they have an order from an ECU Health or OBH provider.
On the day of their mammogram screening appointment, patients also now enjoy upgrades to the mammogram imaging suite. These upgrades were funded by proceeds from the recent Nags Head Links Ladies Driving Fore a Cure Golf Tournament. Thanks to the Nags Head Links Ladies, the mammogram suite now provides an atmosphere that promotes patient comfort. Features such as a gown warmer, a TV, a coffee station, new furniture and artwork, and other cosmetic elements, such as new curtains, painted walls and artificial skylights have all been added to improve the patient experience.
The most likely outcome of a mammography screening is peace of mind that comes from knowing you do not have breast cancer. When breast cancer is detected, Outer Banks Health has the highest quality of care available to help patients navigate the breast cancer journey.
In fact, the Outer Banks Health Breast Care Program has once again been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers of the American College of Surgeons, marking its second recognition since 2022. OBH’s full cancer program has earned Commission on Cancer accreditation three times in a row since 2016. Out of over 1,300 similarly sized hospitals, OBH is the only one in the nation to earn this prestigious designation. OBH has a full team of screening and cancer care specialists ready to help and guide patients every step of the way. OBH is also accredited by the American College of Radiology as a gold standard of medical imaging, as OBH offers the safest and best quality of care possible.
Our high-quality care is evidenced by the fact that OBH has reduced the breast cancer mortality rate in Dare County. When OBH opened in 2002, the county’s breast cancer mortality rate ranked among the highest percentiles statewide. Today, it is among the lowest, at an above-average survival rate. Since OBH’s opening, the detection of life-threatening tumors has shifted dramatically from clinical diagnoses to proactive screenings. Previously, results were primarily discovered in a clinical setting, with only 44% of women having regular screenings. Now, 80% of women in Dare County are learning of their results through proactive screenings, increasing their chances of survival if any life-threatening discoveries are made. This significant decrease in mortality rate is the direct result of OBH’s initiatives, including promoting regular screenings, fundraising for state-of-the-art mammography technology, and fostering a community-wide focus on prevention and well-being.
Further, our high-quality care is available to all. Outer Banks Health offers free screening mammograms to individuals who do not have health insurance. Dare County residents, as well as Hyde, Currituck and Tyrell county residents who work in Dare County, are eligible. The free screenings are made available through the Get Pinked! Program of Outer Banks Health’s Development Council. Since 2011, we have provided more than 2,800 free mammograms.
Breast cancer screening using mammography is recommended to begin at age 40. An order from a provider is needed to schedule a mammogram appointment. Contact your primary care provider or OB/GYN to obtain a mammography order. For more information about screening mammography at Outer Banks Health and to schedule your appointment, call (252) 449-5918. If you need a primary care doctor, call (252) 449-4540 to be connected to an available provider.