Women looking for the highest quality breast cancer care - from diagnosis through recovery - will find it at St. Mary Medical Center’s Women’s Diagnostic Center. The hospital’s comprehensive breast cancer program recently earned a quality distinction that attests to the excellence of care provided to patients.
The Women’s Diagnostic Center at St. Mary Medical Center was granted 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.
“Top accreditations such as this tell our patients that they are receiving the highest level, multi-disciplinary care available,” said Janice Ryba, hospital CEO. “We’re extremely proud of the team at the Women’s Diagnostic Center for this achievement and their dedication to quality and personal service.”
Richard Browne, MD, FACS, board-certified surgeon on staff at St. Mary Medical Center, physician liaison to the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer, and chairman of the hospital’s Breast Cancer Committee, highlights the benefits of accredited breast centers for patients choosing services.
“Patients who have been diagnosed with breast cancer are faced with many decisions about their care and treatment going forward,” he said. “Choosing an accredited breast center can give them one less thing to worry about. The accreditation ensures their breast care team will work together with demonstrated best practices and technology that is of the highest standards.”
During the survey process, the center must demonstrate 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. A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.
“Our patients gain peace of mind knowing we’ve met the most stringent standards for quality in personnel, facilities, and technology,” added Charisa Spoo, DO, dedicated breast radiologist at the Women’s Diagnostic Center in Hobart and Valparaiso. “Combined with compassionate care and attention to personal service, our program meets the full-range of needs for breast cancer patients.”
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 20 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 232,340 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2013. In addition, hundreds of thousands of women who will deal with benign breast disease this year will require medical evaluation for treatment options.
Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient 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
For more information about specialized women’s care and the programs and services offered by St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart or any of our outpatient locations, visit our web site at www.comhs.org/stmary.
Photo: St. Mary Medical Center’s Breast Center Team (L-R): Donna Faitak, RT, (R)(M)(QM) certified breast health navigator; Richard Browne, MD, breast surgeon; Charise Spoo, DO, dedicated breast radiologist; Ana B. Guzman, FNP-BC, certified breast health navigator