The Porter Breast Center and Porter Comprehensive Breast Care have received the “gold standard” in accreditation for breast centers nationally. After a recent survey, the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), which is administered by the American College of Surgeons, granted three-year full accreditation designation to Porter’s Breast program.

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 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.

“We are pleased to be recognized as among the few breast programs nationally to reach the high standards set by the NAPBC,” said Dr. Colleen Murphy, breast surgical oncologist and medical director of the Porter program. “We are committed to providing everything our patients need, from high-tech and convenient mammography to the full spectrum of treatment and care for breast disease and breast cancer.”

Porter’s breast program provides comprehensive, personal care to patients, including walk-in mammograms, genetic counseling, and an onsite board-certified dedicated breast surgeon. In the event a patient is diagnosed with breast cancer, a nurse navigator guides the patient through every step of the treatment process. To save time and streamline appointments, a patient can meet with the entire cancer care team in one day.

The other two hospitals in Centura Health’s South Denver Operating Group, Littleton Adventist and Parker Adventist, are on track for this accreditation in the next few months.

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 2009. 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 information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit their Web site at http://www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.

For more information about Porter’s breast program, or to schedule a mammogram or breast consultation, call 303-778-5815 or visit http://www.porterhospital.org/breastcare to take a free breast cancer risk quiz.

About Porter Adventist Hospital
Porter Adventist Hospital is a full service, Nursing Magnet® designated, 368-bed acute-care referral center for complex medicine and surgery patients. In addition to being ranked No. 1 for 2010 in overall cardiac care in Colorado by a national hospital reporting company, Porter specializes in cancer care, joint replacement, spinal care and organ transplantation. Porter is sponsored by Adventist Health System and is part of Centura Health, Colorado’s largest hospital and health care network delivering advanced care to more than half a million people each year, across 13 hospitals, seven senior living communities, medical clinics, affiliated partner hospitals, Flight for Life® Colorado, and home care and hospice services. Porter’s and Centura’s strength lies in the ability to offer a team of connected networks and shared resources to deliver accessible, reliable and cost-effective health care across the state.

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Source:  Porter Adventist Hospital