Methodist Hospital’s Breast Cancer program has 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. 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.
“NAPBC accreditation challenges breast cancer centers to enhance the care they provide by addressing patient-centered needs and measuring the quality of the care they deliver against national standards,” explains Gay Nord, Methodist Hospital CEO.
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 20131. In addition, hundreds of thousands of women who will deal with benign breast disease this year will require medical evaluation for treatment options.
Methodist Hospital breast cancer patient, Jen Reynolds, found a lump in her breast at age 33, and experienced pain in her underarm area and a bloody discharge from one of her nipples. One doctor took no action telling her, “there’s no way you have cancer, you’re too young.” Another doctor asked her where she was in her monthly cycle and asked her to wait three weeks before taking action.
Finally, in November 2013, six months after she discovered the lump, she found a physician who listened. After a mammogram and biopsy she was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma with a tumor 2.8 centimeter in size. Reynolds became a patient of Methodist Hospital’s breast cancer program, working with one of the hospital’s special breast cancer oncology nurse navigators who helped her through her cancer journey. After chemotherapy, a mastectomy and reconstruction surgery, Reynolds is cancer free and grateful for her experience with Methodist Hospital.
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.
“NAPBC accreditation provides value across all domains of care, including: access to care and service, patient satisfaction and well-being, and quality of cancer care,” said Nord.
For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit their Web site at www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.
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About Methodist Hospital
Methodist Hospital, chartered in 1955, is the pioneer facility of the now world renowned South Texas Medical Center. Opened in 1963, Methodist Hospital has grown to be the flagship facility of the Methodist Healthcare System, San Antonio’s largest and most preferred health care provider. Methodist Hospital maintains this excellent reputation with a commitment to the hospital’s value statement that defines quality as meeting the customers’ needs by exceeding their expectations.
Methodist Hospital offers a broad range of specialties including cardiology, boasting San Antonio’s only heart transplant program, oncology, emergency medicine, neurosciences, maternity care, gynecology and orthopedics. Methodist Hospital is accredited by The Joint Commission in stroke care and is designated as an accredited Chest Pain Center.
As part of the Methodist Healthcare System in San Antonio, Methodist Hospital has achieved many awards for clinical excellence and quality outcomes as well innovation and people’s choice awards. Receiving the Texas Award for Performance Excellence in 2014 is a testament to the hospital, as part of Methodist Healthcare, being selected as the most preferred and trusted health care system each and every year.