We’re Upgrading! Pardon the dust—Our Mammography suite will temporarily close in December and reopen in January. If you need assistance or need to schedule or move a visit please call 1.855.723.3926.Learn more.
If you have ever put off a mammogram because of the comfort, this one is for you. In December, Artesia General Hospital’s mammography suite will close during Dec 26 – Jan 27 while we install a brand-new 3D mammography system and rebuild the room around the women who use it. When it reopens, the exam will be faster, lower-dose and a noticeably more comfortable mammogram.
Why does a mammogram squeeze at all?
Compression spreads the breast tissue so the X-ray can see through it clearly, with less radiation and fewer repeat pictures. It is still part of every mammogram, including ours in January. What changes is how it feels: the new system uses a flexible paddle that follows the natural shape of the breast instead of pressing flat, and it automatically eases the pressure once the image is set. More comfortable mammogram, same clear picture.
What is changing in December that leads to a More Comfortable Mammogram?
Two things. The machine, and the room. The new 3D system takes its images in about four seconds and builds the 2D and 3D views from a single compression, so you spend less time in position. The suite itself is being redesigned so the space feels calm rather than clinical. We are saving the details for January, but we think you will notice the difference and experience a more comfortable mammogram the moment you walk in.
“The number one thing I hear in that room is ‘I’ve been dreading this.’ I can’t take the compression away, it’s how we get a clear picture, but the new paddle flexes with you instead of pressing flat, and the machine backs off the pressure on its own once it has what it needs. I’ve waited a long time to be able to tell someone it’s going to be easier this year and mean it.” says Halie Kessler, lead mammography technologist.
“I’ve waited a long time to be able to tell someone it’s going to be easier this year and mean it.”
Halie Kessler, lead mammography technologist.
What should I do before December?
Book November. If your annual screening is due this winter, calling now means you are done before the holidays and before the closure. Women 40 and older do not need a physician referral. Call 1.855.723.3926 or visit our 3D mammography page. Hablamos Español.
If you already have a December appointment, our team will call you to reschedule. You do not need to do anything.
When does the suite reopen?
We expect to reopen in January 2027. Watch this blog and our Facebook page for the full announcement.
Until then: catch it early, and book in November. Call 1.855.723.3926.
This article is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your provider about the screening schedule that is right for you.
Reviewed by Roy Thomas, Director of Radiology & Carlsbad Clinic Operations | November 2026
