St. Mary's Medical Center Earns National Breast Center Accreditation
The Breast Center at St. Mary’s Medical Center has earned a three-year full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.
Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. During the survey process, the Breast Center at St. Mary’s demonstrated compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of: center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement. In addition, the Breast Center at St. Mary’s was recognized for creating clinical best practices in the areas of: navigation, breast cancer surveillance, breast cancer staging and evaluation and management of benign breast disease.
“This accreditation is a testament to the advanced breast cancer care St. Mary’s provides,” said Annette Small, CEO. “We are proud to be recognized among the nation’s top breast health programs.”
The NAPBC accreditation ensures that patients in the Breast Center at St. Mary’s will have access to:
- Comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-
art services
- A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best
treatment options
- Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
- Quality breast care close to home.
“The entire team in the Breast Center dedicates themselves every day to ensuring women in the community have access to state-of-the-art preventive services, as well as the best treatment options and support during recovery,” said Colleen Johnson, Regional Director of the Breast Center. “This accreditation means our patients can be reassured they are receiving the highest level of care based on national standards.”
The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast. This mission is pursued through standard-setting, scientific validation, and patient and professional education. Its board membership includes professionals from 15 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.