Access to Breast Health

The Access to Breast Health for Texans project aims to revolutionize preventive breast screenings and education in rural communities across Texas.

Proactively Closing The Gap In Breast Cancer Resources

In November 2024, the Access to Breast Health for Texans (ABHT) program officially launched, bringing comprehensive breast exams directly to rural communities where many women are not receiving recommended preventive screenings. What began with five initial screening sites and 200 participants has now grown into a rapidly expanding regional program. To date, more than 2,000 individuals have received a comprehensive breast exam, and ABHT has reached 24 counties, with additional counties scheduled for upcoming events. The program is continuing to expand into other areas and counties across West Texas, broadening its reach to serve more individuals in underserved communities.

Feedback from individuals screened shows gaps in prior preventative care: 35% of individuals who provided feedback had never received a mammogram, and an additional 25% were more than two years overdue. This feedback highlights the persistent challenges rural individuals face in accessing timely services.

ABHT’s model also reduces common barriers by providing on-site follow-up ultrasound when clinically appropriate, avoiding the cost and delay of separate referrals, allowing them to receive timely information and navigation support.

Individuals who have provided feedback on the screening services have been overwhelmingly positive. 99.5% of individuals have provided that they would return for a future comprehensive breast exam, reflecting strong trust, satisfaction, and community adoption. With current sites fully booked and additional screening events scheduled in the coming months, the ABHT program is making substantial progress in engagement with individuals who have historically been disconnected from routine preventative care. By meeting individuals where they are and offering a barrier-free screening experience, ABHT is helping more Texans access preventative services sooner, an essential step toward improving long-term health outcomes.

TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNOLOGY

Bexa™ is an early detection process that uses two FDA-cleared technologies to produce a painless exam performed by highly trained, registered breast sonographers and is designed to detect and evaluate masses in breasts. The Bexa™ and ultrasound technologies are small and portable and do not use radiation or compression, making it the process highly adopted, easily transportable and accessible. The Bexa™ technology is unaffected by dense breast tissue or implants, safe during pregnancy and effective in younger or breast-feeding women. The entire process for a Bexa™ Breast Exam takes about 15 to 30 minutes.

POWERFUL COMMUNITY COLLABORATION

The TTUHSC team is forging partnerships with local hospitals and health care providers to organize breast exam events across Big Bend, Concho Valley and the Permian Basin. Community engagement with local leaders, and community-based sites like churches, schools and clinics are essential in driving adoption among women who cannot or will not have mammograms.

PATIENT IMPACT IN RURAL TEXAS

• Promotes better long-term health outcomes through early detection and preventive breast care 
• Expands access to essential breast health services in rural communities 
• Offers easy-to-understand, accessible resources to empower healthier lives
• Ensures seamless, patient-centered care throughout every stage of the journey

Project Leads

Connie Tyne
Laura W. Bush Institute for Women's Health Executive Director

Julie Wright 
Institute of Telehealth and Digital Innovation, Managing Director

Tamara Alexander 
Institute of Telehealth and Digital Innovation, Director: Rural Initiatives