JGBCC is the first and only center in the state to receive a full three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). Administered by the American College of Surgeons, NAPBC accreditation goes only to centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and have undergone a rigorous evaluation process and performance review.
Kentucky First Lady Jane Beshear joined JGBCC officials and University of Louisville administrators to announce the honor Jan. 20, at the JGBCC’s Breast Care Center.
This is terrific news for the women of Kentucky, she said. To have a breast care center in our state recognized as one of the top in the country no doubt provides a great deal of comfort and confidence in the minds of our people.
NAPBC accredits centers after a survey process that requires demonstrated compliance with 27 NAPBC standards for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast diseases-from breast cancer to benign lesions that require medical evaluation for treatment options.
Three standards critical for accreditation are a strong program leadership, a multidisciplinary approach to disease evaluation and management and active collaboration between individuals involved in all aspects of a patient’s care.
Others include proficiency in clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement. The standards apply to all disciplines involved in breast care, including radiology, pathology, medical oncology, surgical oncology, plastic surgery, genetics and nursing.
Following its survey process, UofL’s mobile mammography unit was cited as being an effective tool for community outreach, and ongoing quality improvement initiatives were noted in such areas as medical oncology and radiation oncology. Use of minimally invasive biopsy techniques for diagnosis, and disease or patient-specific targeted therapies when appropriate, were highlighted, as well.
This distinction represents an acknowledgment of the dedication shown by our many breast care clinicians, support staff, counselors and researchers to providing only the most outstanding and comprehensive care to our patients, said Donald Miller, M.D., JGBCC director. We are honored to be among the fine institutions nationwide that are NAPBC-accredited, and this distinction underscores and invigorates our commitment to our patients now and in the future.