HCA Houston Healthcare Tomball has partnered with Solis Mammography, which will start seeing patients Aug. 2 at 13426 Medical Complex Drive, Tomball. The mammography clinic offers 3D mammography with SmartCurve technology for greater accuracy and comfort, diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound, breast biopsy and bone density scanning services.

"This allows us to provide a more comfortable mammogram," said DaWanda Nelson, the vice president of operations for Solis Mammography's south central region. "When we're using 3D [technology], this machine actually arcs like a CAT scan machine, and it takes multiple [image] slices through the breast, so it's like fanning through a book. What that allows us to do is it allows us to find issues within the breast at their very smallest stages so that if it's there, we can address it quicker, and the patient's pathway [or] treatment plan is a lot less invasive than if we were to find it at a later stage."

The Tomball location features a spa-like atmosphere and offers online scheduling, HCA officials said. Patients can also receive their screening results by email within 24-48 hours.

"It's all about making women feel comfortable in this environment. This group Solis [Mammography] is world class," hospital CEO Eric Evans said. "This partnership is bringing the highest level of technology, diagnostic capability, to Tomball [and] to this women's center. We're just proud to be able to have it here."

The clinic is the first tenant in a future women's center that will also feature women's care specialists, Evans said. A formal opening is planned for October. www.solismammo.com