Penn Medicine in the US is set to enhance access to breast cancer screenings with the launch of its mobile mammogram van.

The initiative, which begins at Penn Medicine’s free community health fair in West Philly, Pennsylvania, on 13 July, will offer year-round screenings at various community sites.

Pennsylvania Hospital radiology chair Brian Englander said: “We are thrilled to introduce Penn Medicine’s first mobile mammogram van, something we’ve been looking forward to—and the community has been asking us for.

“When we bring our mammography services directly to community partners and events, we can make lifesaving breast cancer screenings more accessible for all.”

The launch of the van coincides with the fourth annual community health fair, a collaborative effort with the Community of Compassion CDC, offering free health screenings and educational resources.

This mammography service builds on the Abramson Cancer Center’s screening programmes for communities that are underserved.

The van is equipped with Siemens’ advanced 3D mammography technology within a private, air-conditioned suite, ensuring a comfortable experience for patients.

Penn Medicine's collaboration with local businesses will bring the van to health fairs, employee wellness programmes, community events, and corporate campuses throughout the Greater Philadelphia Area.

Patients interested in mobile mammography services can request the van's presence at events through an online form.

A schedule of public events featuring the van will soon be accessible online.

The service will bill patients' insurance where applicable, and it will not exclude anyone for lack of insurance coverage.

Abramson Cancer Center's community outreach and engagement associate director Carmen Guerra said: “We’re dedicated to empowering our community with accessible cancer screenings, education, and prevention resources.

“With this new mobile mammogram van, we’ll be even better equipped to provide essential preventive care across the Greater Philadelphia Area.”