Why should you choose an accredited breast center for your cancer care?

St. Joseph’s/Candler and the LCRP have multiple accreditations, designations in breast imaging and breast cancer care

We understand that a breast cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming for patients and their families. That’s why St. Joseph’s/Candler and the Nancy N. and J.C. Lewis Cancer & Research Pavilion take multiple steps to exceed benchmarks in breast cancer care.

The LCRP once again earned a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), administered by the American College of Surgeons.

“They have roughly 36 standards that we have to follow. To be NAPBC accredited, you are recognized for exceeding those national benchmarks for breast cancer care,” says Michelle Beasley, breast cancer oncology patient navigator with the LCRP. “Because we are meeting these standards, the patient knows they are getting high quality care.”

NAPBC accreditation includes meeting standards in breast cancer treatment including surgery, radiation and infusion therapies. But it also covers the entire spectrum of breast care from imaging and diagnostics to prevention to genetic counseling to survivorship and end-of-life care.

In addition, the NAPBC provides resources to help us develop and operate high-quality breast cancer services to meet their standards. To earn accreditation, members of the American College of Surgeons do on-site interviews and audits to evaluate that their standards are being met or exceeded.

“A lot of work goes into this, but it’s important to us to make sure we are meeting all these standards so we can provide the best care we can for our patients and their families,” Beasley says.  

Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center

While the Telfair Pavilion is under the NAPBC accreditation umbrella, it also has been recognized for quality of care and is certified by the Food and Drug Administration in accordance with the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA).

We also are designated by the American College of Radiology as a Comprehensive Breast Imaging Center (CBIC) with accreditations in:  

• Breast MRI – magnetic resonance imaging used to detect a breast abnormality
• Breast Ultrasound – imaging of the breast that can be used for screening or diagnosis
• Digital and 3D Mammography – images that show an abnormality before it can be felt
• Stereotactic Breast Biopsy – less invasive than a surgical biopsy, this procedure uses low-dose x-rays to locate and test a breast abnormality

“These designations show we are still holding ourselves to the highest standards so we can in turn give the highest standard of care to our patients,” Beasley says.

If it’s time for your annual mammogram, we hope you choose one for St. Joseph’s/Candler five locations for mammography. Find one near you and schedule your appointment today.