HCA Midwest Health System, Kansas City’s largest healthcare network, today announces that four of its hospitals have been granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. Following a rigorous evaluation process, Centerpoint Medical Center, Menorah Medical Center, Overland Park Regional Medical Center and Research Medical Center have received this prestigious designation.
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 an in-depth evaluation process and review of their performance. During the survey process, each of the four HCA Midwest hospitals 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.
“We are very pleased to receive this accreditation,” says Robert Talley, MD, medical oncologist at Centerpoint Medical Center. “It reaffirms the commitment that our breast center has for the detection and treatment of breast cancer in individuals within our community.”
Pam Handlan, RT, director of The Breast Center at Menorah Medical Center, agrees that the accreditations align with the hospitals’ dedication to the diagnosis, care and treatment of breast cancer patients. “A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation demonstrates a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease,” says Handlan.
Anne M. Kobberman, MD, breast surgical oncologist at Overland Park Regional Medical Center, says that the NAPBC accreditation validates the continuum of care offered to each patient. “We are very proud of the national breast center accreditation,” says Dr. Kobberman. “This honor serves to reinforce our continued commitment to providing the highest possible quality health care to women in the metro area and throughout the Midwest.”
Stephanie Graff, medical oncologist who specializes in breast cancer at The Breast Care Program at Midwest Cancer Care at Research Medical Center says the NAPBC accreditation assures patients and family members are getting the highest quality breast care. “And not just for those affected by cancer, but for screening mammography, education and prevention services,” says Dr. Graff. “We offer everything from digital mammography and breast cancer prevention services to complex multi-disciplinary breast cancer care including medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology and plastic/reconstructive surgery. Our NAPBC accredited team is committed to health and hope.”
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.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 192,370 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 20091. 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, and most importantly,
- Quality breast care close to home.
For more on the NAPBC, visit their Web site at accreditedbreastcenters.org.