Clearwater Valley Health Named Finalist for National Imaging Award

By Ashley Steinbruecker

Clearwater Valley Health has been recognized as a finalist for Cassling’s 2025 Imaging for Impact Award, a prestigious national honor that celebrates innovative approaches to improving patient care and expanding access to critical healthcare services.

Selected from more than 25 award applications nationwide, CVH’s radiology team earned this recognition for launching a Mobile Mammography Program that brings life-saving breast cancer screening directly to patients in underserved rural areas.

Addressing a Critical Need

Access to timely mammogram services has long been a challenge in our area. Recognizing this gap, the Clearwater Valley Health and St. Mary’s Health radiology teams took action in February 2025, launching an initiative focused on making breast cancer screening accessible to everyone who needs it.

“By launching a mobile mammography program, your team has removed barriers for rural patients, delivering high-quality care directly to the communities that need it most,” wrote Kyle Salem, PhD, President and CEO of Cassling, in a congratulatory letter to CVH. “This is healthcare innovation at its finest and is a great example of how to meet patients where they are by ensuring no one goes without essential screening.”

Team Collaboration Drives Success

The mobile mammography program’s success reflects the collaborative efforts of multiple team members across CVH and its sister facility, St. Mary’s Hospital. Britney Summerfield, Radiology Manager at CVH, along with Olivia Crickmon, CT Tech, and Kristi Poxleitner, Radiology Manager at SMH, worked together to make this vision a reality.

The team divided responsibilities between strategic planning and coordination while ensuring that mammography workflows adapted effectively to mobile environments. Together, they overcame logistical hurdles, partnered with local clinics, and developed educational materials to help patients understand the importance of regular screening.

The initiative currently serves two critical access hospitals and two outlying clinics, significantly expanding the reach of breast cancer screening services throughout the region.

National Recognition

In August 2025, Summerfield represented CVH at Cassling’s Investing In You 2025 Educational Summit in Omaha, Nebraska, where she shared the organization’s story during a panel session attended by more than 100 imaging professionals from across the country.

“Britney’s talking points highlighted the collaboration, precision and heart that defined your initiative,” noted Brian Bradfield, Chief Operating Officer of Cassling. “It was clear to everyone in attendance that Clearwater Valley Health is making an extraordinary impact.”

Cassling, an Advanced Partner of Siemens Healthineers, debuted the Imaging for Impact Award in 2025 to recognize and celebrate imaging teams’ contributions to keeping care local and improving patient outcomes. The company’s stated goal is to impact 350 million patient lives by 2030.

Impact on Rural Healthcare

The Mobile Mammography Program represents a significant advancement in rural healthcare delivery, ensuring that geographic isolation no longer prevents patients from receiving essential preventive care. By bringing services directly to patients rather than requiring them to travel long distances, the program removes transportation barriers, reduces time away from work and family, and ultimately improves health outcomes through earlier detection.

“Your work stands as an inspiring model for rural healthcare delivery across the nation,” Salem wrote in his congratulatory letter.

The CVH radiology team’s recognition as a national finalist underscores the innovative spirit and patient-centered approach that defines healthcare in the Clearwater Valley, demonstrating that small rural hospitals can lead the way in developing creative solutions to healthcare challenges.