WARWICK – The Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital has earned a three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.
Accreditation 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, according to Kent Hospital. The Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital, a collaboration with Women & Infants Hospital, opened in January 2010 and has received full NAPBC accreditation three times since then, including the most recent accreditation.
During the latest review, the Breast Health Center demonstrated compliance with standards established by the program for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of patient navigation, breast cancer surveillance, pathology, support and rehabilitation, and educational resources. 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, the hospital noted in a statement announcing the accreditation.
In its report on the accreditation, the NAPBC surveyor noted, “… the Breast Health Center at Kent is an outstanding jewel of a community breast program, with the benefits of a small community and the strengths of a partnership with an academic tertiary center.”
The surveyor also recognized the leadership of Dr. Candace L. Dyer, as well as the hard work of medical and radiation oncology staff, the imaging and pathology services, and the plastic surgery services.
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, according to the organization’s website. Its 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.
Receiving care at an 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, according to Kent Hospital.
Three other breast centers have earned accreditation that is current with the NAPBC: Lifespan Cancer Institute Breast Center at Rhode Island Hospital;
Three other breast centers have earned accreditation that is current with the NAPBC: Lifespan Cancer Institute’s Breast Center’s accredited sites at Rhode Island Hospital, The Miriam Hospital and Newport Hospital; Roger Williams Breast Health Program, and the Women & Infants’ Breast Health Center.
Rob Borkowski is a PBN staff writer. Email him at Borkowski@PBN.com.
