"A breast cancer diagnosis is frightening and it can be difficult to know what to look for in a cancer care program and who to place your trust in," notes Dr. Bernadette Ryan, the surgical oncologist who led the effort to have Bassett’s program become accredited. "We have undergone a rigorous evaluation process and review of our performance because we want our patients and their families to have confidence in the care we provide. They need to know we’re committed to offering every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease," explains Ryan.

According to the NAPBC, more than 182,460 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the United States this year and close to 2,000 new cases are expected in men. Yet the treatment of breast cancer has become increasingly complex, which is why to earn accreditation by the NAPBC centers must provide patients with:

• Comprehensive care that includes state-of-the-art services and equipment
• A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best available treatment options
• Access to prevention and early detection programs, cancer education, and support services
• Ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care

Chief of Surgery Dr. Steven Heneghan says, "The fact that Bassett’s breast center has earned accreditation speaks volumes about the care team’s high standards, quality of care, and level of commitment to patients. This really sets us apart."

As an NAPBC-accredited center, Bassett will participate in a national breast disease database to report patterns of care with the goal of continuous quality improvement. Bassett will also have access to breast center comparison benchmark reports in order to assess patterns of care and outcomes relative to national norms.