UCI Breast Health Center receives top accreditation by American College of Surgeons
Accredited centers have demonstrated excellence in leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement practices.
UC Irvine’s Breast Health Center has been granted full three-year accreditation by the American College of Surgeons, the nation’s preeminent standards-setting body for surgical practice and education.
The group’s National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers evaluates a facility’s commitment to meeting highest quality standards for the full spectrum of breast disease. Accredited centers must demonstrate excellence in leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement practices.
“Our top priority is ensuring that patients receive the greatest range of options for treating their breast cancer,” said Dr. Karen Lane, the center’s clinical director. “The accreditation process requires frequent quality assurance checks, which will allow us to continually improve UC Irvine’s already excellent breast health services.”
The Breast Health Center, part of Orange County’s only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, is one of only 20 accredited breast centers in California, three in Orange County. With 23,800 new breast cancer cases in California, 2,025 in Orange County, according to 2011 American Cancer Association estimates, it’s more important than ever that women have high-quality breast care close to home.
Choosing an accredited facility 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 coordinating the best treatment options.
- information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.
The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving the quality of care and monitoring outcomes for patients with breast disease. This mission is pursued through setting of standards, scientific validation, and patient and professional education.
About UC Irvine Medical Center: Orange County’s only university hospital, UC Irvine Medical Center offers acute- and general-care services at its new, 482,000-square-foot UC Irvine Douglas Hospital and is home to the county’s only Level I trauma center, American College of Surgeons-verified regional burn center and National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center. U.S. News & World Report has included UC Irvine for 10 consecutive years on its list of America’s Best Hospitals, giving special recognition to its urology, gynecology, and ear, nose & throat programs.
About the University of California, Irvine: Founded in 1965, UCI is a top-ranked university dedicated to research, scholarship and community service. Led by Chancellor Michael Drake since 2005, UCI is among the most dynamic campuses in the University of California system, with nearly 28,000 undergraduate and graduate students, 1,100 faculty and 9,000 staff. Orange County’s largest employer, UCI contributes an annual economic impact of $4.2 billion. For more UCI news, visit www.today.uci.edu.
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