Breast Center of Excellence Receives National Accreditation

AMERICAN FORK — In fighting cancer, a team approach delivers the best results. And breast cancer patients treated at the Intermountain Breast Center of Excellence at American Fork Hospital and Utah Valley Regional Medical Center benefit from a team of experts from six specialties who work together to provide patients with the best possible outcomes.
   
This team was recently recognized for its commitment to high quality breast care with the Breast Center of Excellence being granted a three-year full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).

The NAPBC is a program administered by the American College of Surgeons, and is only given to those centers that voluntarily commit to provide the highest level of breast care. The Intermountain Breast Center of Excellence becomes only the third center in Utah to be NAPBC accredited, and the first in Utah County. An accredited breast center ensures patients have access to comprehensive care, a multi-disciplinary team to facilitate the best treatment options and quality care close to home.

“What we found when we started the process is that we were already offering a really high level of care,” said Jennifer Tittensor, MD, breast surgeon and chair of the Breast Program Leadership committee. “The extra things the accreditation looks at are things like unified care and internal review that notches up the level of care.”

Part of the unified care and internal review includes a face-to-face weekly conference where members of the breast care team meet to discuss individual cases and gather expertise from all the specialists, including radiologists, medical and radiation oncologists, pathologists, and general and reconstructive surgeons. This multidisciplinary approach essentially gives patients a second opinion as it provides an opportunity for physicians to express opinions about treatment plans. “It keeps everyone practicing good medicine because decisions have to be justified to other practitioners,” said Greg Chipman, MD, a medical oncologist and Breast Program Leadership committee member.

This increased communication between providers also streamlines care for patients and keeps treatment close to home. “One of the requirements for accreditation is that providers work more as a team,” said Jared Szymanski, DO, a pathologist and member of the Breast Program Leadership committee. “The accreditation gives patients the confidence that they don’t have to leave home to get world-class care for breast cancer.”

An accredited center must meet a set of standards that focuses on center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. According to the NAPBC, a breast center that achieves accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every advantage in their battle against breast disease.

According to Dr. Tittensor, the accreditation raises the bar, which is always a good thing for the patient. “We were good before,” she said. “But this will make us even better.”