Walmart pilots in-store breast cancer screening center

Walmart has launched a pilot that involves a critical health care area for women. 

Outpatient diagnostic imaging company RadNet Inc. has opened a mammogram screening center inside the Walmart Supercenter in Milford, Del. The “MammogramNow” center, which offers basic mammogram screenings, leverages cutting-edge technology, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), providing an improved level of screening performance and promoting earlier detection, according to RadNet. 

“By placing the MammogramNow program inside the Walmart Supercenter, RadNet and Walmart are seeking to make breast health screenings more accessible, encouraging proactive, community-based healthcare,” the company said in a release. 

As part of the pilot, RadNet will actively promote breast health education and awareness initiatives, providing the Milford community with essential information about breast health and the critical nature of regular screenings.

According to a report by Los Angeles Business Journal, RadNet expects to open two additional mammography screening centers inside Walmart stores in the next few months, with one in Phoenix, Ariz., and the other in Hanford, Calif. 

“We believe RadNet currently performs close to five percent of all mammograms in the United States annually, and the pilot with Walmart is designed to provide even greater, convenient access for women, driving better compliance with annual breast cancer screening guidelines,” said RadNet president and CEO Howard Berger, M.D. “The ability to offer leading-edge hardware, software and AI technologies in a non-traditional healthcare location, such as a highly-trafficked retail location like a Walmart Supercenter, could become a new paradigm for the future of consumer healthcare and preventative medicine.”

In December, Walmart launched a pilot program bringing free HIV screenings two of its pharmacies in Virginia. 

The opening of the  mammography screening center comes as Walmart continues to expand into health care via its freestanding health care format. The retail giant plans to open 28 new Walmart Health centers in 2024.  The new facilities, which will be approximately 5,750 sq. ft. and located beside Walmart Supercenters, will feature a full suite of health services. The services may vary by location, but include primary care, labs, X-ray and EKG, behavioral health, dental, hearing, select specialty services, community health and telehealth.

RadNet has a network of 366 owned and/or operated outpatient imaging centers in California, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, Florida, and Arizona. RadNet has 366 diagnostic imaging centers in seven states: Arizona, California, Delaware, Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and New York. Most of the facilities are standalone centers.