A grant from the Pa. Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program has boosted Doylestown Hospital’s countywide efforts to combat breast cancer. The capital enabled the health system to increase the size of its new Clark Center for Breast Imaging, according to John George in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The grant provided $1 million in funding toward the project’s $3.7 million overall budget.

“Diagnostic imaging is one of our fastest-growing services, touching thousands of lives every year,” said Jim Brexler, CEO of Doylestown Health. “This is life-saving work, and we are proud to be able to invest in making it more readily available for more people than ever before, regardless of their ability to pay.”

The imaging center, which opened this week, replaces a single suite that had been in use for 25 years. The larger space enables the treatment of 2,000 additional patients annually.

Dr. Michele Kopach, director of the Clark Center, underscored the importance of routine mammograms. She cited statistics that 66 percent of cases are found through routine screenings, including many involving women with no symptoms.

“Our goal is to reduce the reluctance to have a mammogram,” Dr. Kopach said. “This new space is an excellent step toward helping us encourage more women to get screening mammograms.”

More on the Clark Center and its breast cancer diagnostic tools is at the Philadelphia Business Journal.