New Mammography Gowns More Functional and Comfortable
Published Wednesday, October 15, 2025
Thanks to donor support of the Family CARE Grant program, the Linda Buchan Centre received a full set of new breast imaging gowns. Charge Technologist Nikki Joyce (left) wears one of the new gowns, while Mammography Technologist Michelle Hutton shows the previous version.
Mammography is the Gold Standard for breast assessment, but the experience can be stressful, intimidating, and uncomfortable for many women. Changing into a hospital gown – and having to wear it backwards – adds to the discomfort and stress for some patients.
But thanks to your support of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation's Family CARE Grant program, you've helped improve the experience for all women. Now, the Linda Buchan Centre for Breast Screening and Assessment has a new set of specially designed gowns to make breast imaging more comfortable for women.
“We've had a ton of compliments,” said Nikki Joyce, Charge Technologist at the Linda Buchan Centre. “They'll say, ‘Oh, awesome, you got new gowns! They're so cute.' They also love that they open in the front, which makes more sense.”
That was one of the biggest complaints about the hospital gowns. Opening in the back is useful for many hospital procedures, but it made mammography awkward and uncomfortable for women.
“We'd ask them to wear the gowns backwards,” Joyce said. “But they weren't really designed to be tied in front, so they don't fit well. Sometimes, women would accidentally reveal themselves in the waiting room.
“The new gowns are specially designed for breast imaging. They are more practical, more comfortable, and provide better coverage for the patient. It's also much easier for positioning for both the woman and the technologist.”
Previously, gown length was also an issue.
“It helps that the new gowns are shorter,” she said. “Before, women could step and trip on the gown during repositioning. Women only have to remove their clothing on top during mammography, so the gowns don't have to be long.”
The new gowns are practical and come in two colours. Although fashion isn't normally a consideration when it comes to hospital gowns, it can help make the first interaction with the Mammography Department a positive experience.
“It may seem like a small thing, but these new gowns make a world of difference to women coming to the Linda Buchan Centre for breast imaging.”
The Family CARE Grant program empowers frontline staff at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre to come up with their own ideas to improve patient care – and then funds those projects. Your support of the Health Sciences Foundation provides that funding to bring great ideas like these new breast imaging gowns to life!
Find out more at: healthsciencesfoundation.ca/familycare