Breast cancer patients of Lakeland Health, and all those Real Men in Pink from last month, are expressing thanks this Thanksgiving season for the recent new three-year full accreditation designation accorded the hospital system by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, a sign of excellence in care regimen based on substantive review.
Lakeland Health garnered the three-year full accreditation designation from NAPBC which is a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. The NAPBC is a group of 20 national organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast.
Accreditation requires a rigorous evaluation process and review of performance to demonstrate a commitment to quality care. During the survey Lakeland demonstrated 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.
Jann Totzke, RN, is Executive Director of Oncology Services for Lakeland Health. She tells us, “The NAPBC only gives accreditation to facilities which have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care.” She adds, “A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.”
NAPBC-accredited facilities ensure patients 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
- Participation in a National Breast Disease Database to report patterns of care and effect quality improvement
For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, you can visit their website by clicking the link below:
