The American College of Surgeons is dedicated to improving the care of the surgical patient and to safeguarding standards of care in an optimal and ethical practice environment.

Oct. 13, 2009
Oct. 14, 2009
Oct. 15, 2009

Contents:
• LaMar S. McGinnis, Jr., to be installed as 90th ACS President at Sunday Convocation
• F. Dean Griffen, MD, FACS, to receive 2009 Distinguished Service
• Honorary Fellowship to be awarded to five prominent surgeons
• Dr. and Mrs. Reiling to receive Distinguished Philanthropist Award at FLS luncheon
• Martin Memorial Lecture to showcase re-engineering success
• Inaugural meeting of the Young Fellows Association to convene Monday
• Panel discussion, new curriculum examine surgical palliative care
• SESAP: An excellent tool for Maintenance of Certification
• National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers celebrates first year

National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers celebrates first year

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) is quickly gaining national recognition in patient care and has accredited 86 breast centers in 28 states since its launch in September 2008, ranging from rural hospitals to large urban treatment centers. In addition, 175 centers are in the process of accreditation and more than 1,000 centers have expressed interest in seeking NAPBC accreditation.

The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations that seeks to accredit breast centers to improve the quality of care and monitor outcomes among patients with diseases of the breast. This goal is accomplished through the development of standards and a rigorous survey process to systematically and critically evaluate breast care, among other key scientific and educational objectives. To acknowledge the multidisciplinary approach required for the treatment of breast disease, the NAPBC is governed by a multidisciplinary board that includes physician leaders, nurses, administrators, and other health care professionals dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of patients with diseases of the breast.

The NAPBC recognizes that breast care is delivered in a variety of settings in the United States—large academic medical centers, teaching and nonteaching hospitals, freestanding centers, and small private practices. Regardless of the setting, NAPBC accreditation is awarded to any breast center that demonstrates a multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best possible care and treatment options available; access to breast cancer-related information, education and support; data collection on quality indicators for all subspecialties involved in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment; ongoing monitoring and improvement of care; and information about clinical trials and new treatment options.

A center seeking NAPBC accreditation must voluntarily commit to providing the best possible care to patients with diseases of the breast. Each center must undergo a rigorous evaluation and review of its performance and compliance with the NAPBC standards.  The standards categories include center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. After a center completes the NAPBC application and they have been approved to continue in the process, they are granted access to complete the Survey Application Record (SAR), which is a web-based interactive application examining the overall center structure.  In conjunction with access to the SAR, an NAPBC surveyor is assigned to the center who provides education throughout the process and performs a site visit on a mutually agreed upon date to review the center’s performance and compliance with NAPBC standards.  To maintain accreditation, centers must undergo an on-site review every three years.

NAPBC accreditation provides a model for organizing and managing a breast care center to ensure multidisciplinary, integrated, and comprehensive breast care services.  The NAPBC has carefully incorporated all aspects of breast health care from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.  Not only does the NAPBC focus on clinical treatment of patients with diseases of the breast, its focus includes research, community education, professional education, and quality improvement, which broadens the scope of care beyond the breast center to include staff, community, and the quest for research-based information that will guide treatment planning in the future.

Stop by the NAPBC exhibit in the Member Information Center during the Clinical Congress to learn more about NAPBC accreditation.  You may also find additional information on the NAPBC Web site at www.accreditedbreastcenters.org or by calling 312-202-5185.