Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Wellness Center is proud to have been granted a renewal of its three-year/Full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

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 center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.

“The Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Women’s Wellness Center is committed to providing the highest quality of care to our patients with breast cancer. This renewal of accreditation from the National Accreditation Program from Breast Centers shows the level of expertise that our team at the Women’s Wellness Center offers our community,” said Dale Gisi, president, Mercy Health – St. Rita’s Medical Center.

St. Rita’s was recognized for having piloted this year a new integrated breast clinic, which has been successful in helping to provide care for patients close to home. The program involves the use of breast navigators who help patients through their process from imaging all the way to survivorship.

“A cancer diagnosis is a life-changing event but we want women to know that they are not alone and that the team at St. Rita’s will help guide them on their journey through treatment,” said Amy Birkemeier, manager, Women’s Wellness Center, Mercy Health - St. Rita’s Medical Center. “We are proud to serve those in our community who are battling this disease and will stay focused on providing the most comprehensive and compassionate 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 are more than 200,000 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States. In addition, hundreds of thousands of women who will deal with benign breast disease 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.