UCHealth Breast Center - Highlands Ranch Hospital

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Before visiting someone,
please read our visitation policy to help with the planning of your visit.

Hours
Monday: 7:30am – 4pm
Tuesday: 7:30am – 4pm
Wednesday: 7:30am – 4pm
Thursday: 7:30am – 4pm
Friday: 7:30am – 4pm
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
Your team
Gretchen Ahrendt, MD
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Breast Surgical Oncology

Jodi Widner, MD
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Surgery - Breast Surgery

Erica Pollack, MD
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Diagnostic

Caroline Ling, MD
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Diagnostic

Schedule your mammogram online

Did you know?

Patients can schedule their mammograms through the UCHealth app or My Health Connection (MHC), our patient portal.

Visit this page to log in to MHC, create an MHC account, or get the UCHealth app to schedule your appointment online.

Highlands Ranch Hospital is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). This accreditation affirms that we operate a leading breast care center program that adheres to strict best practice guidelines and policies.

UCHealth Breast Center – Highlands Ranch Hospital features two dedicated breast surgeons. We provide a full array of breast surgery procedures, and our patients become the center of an integrated care team.

The complete team – which includes our surgeons as well as breast nurse navigators, research nurses, social workers, spiritual and genetic counselors – meet to talk about specific treatment plans, recent advances and emerging trends in breast care treatment, as well as important clinical trials. Putting all of those experts in a room is like getting the benefit of a second or third opinion, at no cost to you.

UCHealth is a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 27 of the world’s leading cancer centers dedicated to quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives.

Multidisciplinary care

Our multidisciplinary approach to treating breast cancer gives you access to a complete clinical experience in one central location. Our trained clinical nurse navigators and intake coordinators will customize your appointments to fit your personal situation.

Prior to your appointment, your nurse navigator will provide one-on-one phone consultation to review our services. We will ask you to collect previous health records from any outside institutions, which we will review prior to your consultation.

During your visit, our breast cancer care team will work with you to determine your personalized plan for treatment. All services are tailored to your personal needs by our multispecialty care providers.

During your visit you will have the opportunity to meet with a multidisciplinary group of specialists, who are faculty of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Your team may consist of:

If you would like to schedule an appointment with the Highlands Ranch Multidisciplinary Clinic call us today at: 720.516.2120

Innovation and personalized experience

We offer exceptional breast care close to home. From annual screening mammograms to genetic counseling for women with a higher risk of breast cancer, we offer advanced imaging capabilities and biopsy options.

The ACR Designated Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center certificate signifies that this center achieved accreditation by the ACR in stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy, breast MRI and by the ACR or an FDA-approved state accrediting body in mammography.

You will be welcomed into a modern, yet relaxing, space by our caring, highly specialized team. The Breast Center is staffed exclusively with CU Medicine radiologists, with a breast radiologist on site.

We are located on the second level of Pavilion 1 at UCHealth Highlands Ranch Hospital. Please park in the main entrance parking lot off of Lucent and Park Central Drive. Proceed to the elevators straight ahead.

Stay ahead of breast disease

The first step to staying ahead of breast disease is to know your body.

Schedule an annual mammogram at the UCHealth Breast Center – Highlands Ranch by calling us at the number above. A doctor’s referral is not needed for an annual screening mammogram.

UCHealth Breast Center – Highlands Ranch follows recommendations set by the American College of Radiology, the American Cancer Society and the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology:

  • Beginning at age 40, all women should have a yearly screening mammogram.
  • Women who are considered high risk or who have a strong family history of breast cancer should discuss their screening schedule with a primary care physician. Additional or earlier screenings may be recommended.

3D mammography: our standard of care

Our Breast Center offers 3D mammography using Hologic Genius 3D Breast Tomosynthesis technology. This state-of-the art technology uses multiple low-dose images at multiple angles to produce a series of one-millimeter images that create a 3D reconstruction of the breast. This enhanced visualization aids in the detection of breast cancer, and greatly reduces the need for additional imaging.

3D mammography offers many advantages to traditional mammograms including:

  • 40% increase in early detection of invasive breast cancers; 35% increase in all other breast cancer detection.
  • 40% decrease in false-positives, reducing unnecessary call backs.

All of our radiologists are fellowship trained and board certified and are solely dedicated to breast imaging. Our Breast Imaging Clinic is fully accredited by the American College of Radiology and the FDA.

Your mammogram appointment

What to expect on appointment day
  • There will be preparation for your exam. You may eat, drink and take regular medications.
  • Some women with sensitive breasts may experience discomfort. If you haven’t started menopause, schedule your mammogram for the week after your menstrual period. Your breasts are usually less tender at that time.
  • Do not wear underarm deodorant, powders, ointments or creams on your breasts on the day of the exam. These can show up on the mammogram images.
  • You will be asked to undress from the waist up, so it is advisable to wear clothing that can be removed for your exam. You will be provided a gown to wear during the examination.
  • Please bring something to tie back long hair.
  • Always inform your doctor and the technologist if there is any possibility that you are pregnant.
  • Please share any breast symptoms or problems with the technologist performing the exam.

Follow-up care

We will notify you promptly if any follow-up care is needed.

Your results

Your results will be available to you online through My Health Connection.

As a patient, you can download our UCHealth app and go to the My Health Connection patient portal to view your results electronically as soon as they are ready.

In addition, the Breast Center will provide information either by phone or mail. We will notify you promptly if any follow-up care is needed.

  • Screening mammogram results will be available within 7-10 business days.
  • Diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound results are available the same day.

If you want your primary care physician to receive a copy of your results, please bring their name, address and phone number at the time of your appointment.

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Scheduling

Please call our office to schedule your appointment.

Please provide all the following information at your scheduled appointment:

  • Insurance card
  • Photo ID
  • Referral (if needed)

To allow enough time to complete your check-in process, please arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment.

We request a 24-hour advance notice if you cannot make it to your scheduled appointment.