UC Cancer Institute's Breast Cancer Center Receives Accreditation

Cincinnati—The University of Cincinnati Cancer Institute's Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center has received a three-year accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program of the American College of Surgeons.

The NAPBC represents a consortium of national, professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast, and accreditation by the program is only granted to centers that have undergone a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.

The breast center is the only center in Ohio to have achieved the highest distinction from the American College of Radiology (Breast Imaging Center of Excellence), National Quality Measures for Breast Centers (Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence) and the NAPBC.

"We are delighted to receive this accreditation, which speaks to the excellence present at the UC Cancer Institute and the quality care delivered by breast cancer specialists within our institution," says Elyse Lower, MD, director of the Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center and a professor in the division of hematology oncology at the UC College of Medicine.

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. Standards include proficiency in the areas of center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement. 

NAPBC-accredited centers must also place emphasis on comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team as well as patient access to ongoing clinical trials and treatment options.

"This further demonstrates our center's ability to provide superb integrative, cutting-edge breast care to the Tristate, and this accreditation is the result of the extensive efforts of our institute's multidisciplinary specialized clinical team," Lower adds. "This national award is a cornerstone step as we integrate the services of clinical care, clinical investigation and basic research in the UCCI Comprehensive Breast Cancer Center."

For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.