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Awards and Accreditations

BMC Achieves National Breast Program Accreditation
June 27, 2014 For Immediate Release Berkshire Medical Center Breast Program Approved by National Accreditation Organization PITTSFIELD, MA - Berkshire Medical Center’s Breast 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. The BMC program was also cited by the NAPBC in four areas for Best Practice designation. 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 program that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease,” according to the NAPBC. “This remarkable achievement is a testament to the dedication of our entire Breast Program team at BMC to provide our patients with the highest quality of care,” said Diane Kelly, RN, BMC Chief Operating Officer. “It’s critically important that we provide these comprehensive breast care services, giving our community access to multi-disciplinary, state-of-the-art care, close to home.” The NAPBC cited BMC’s Breast Program in four areas for providing Best Practice services, including breast conservation, breast cancer staging, pathology reports and nursing. BMC’s work in those areas will be included in NAPBC’s national database of information that can be used by other programs to help meet NAPBC standards of care. 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. 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. For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit their Web site at www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.