Northwest Community Healthcare Breast Center earns accreditation

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers has approved the Northwest Community Healthcare Breast Center, granting a three-year, full accreditation designation. The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers program is administered by the American College of Surgeons.

Accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers 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 National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers 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 National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.

Northwest Community Healthcare provides four imaging locations with short wait times and same-day results for mammograms. 3-D mammography is the standard of care for all patients, and automated breast ultrasounds are available for women with dense breast tissue.

"Northwest Community Healthcare Breast Center offers unparalleled capabilities for diagnosing and treating breast cancer and benign breast disease within a multidisciplinary setting," says Allyson Jacobson, M.D., Medical Director of the Northwest Community Healthcare Breast Program.

"This accreditation is the result of a great deal of hard work and dedication by the entire Breast Center team, all of our support staff and our physicians."

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers 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.

Hundreds of thousands of women who will deal with benign breast disease this year will require medical evaluation for treatment options.

Receiving care at a National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers-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

• Quality breast care close to home

Northwest Community Healthcare offers convenient locations in Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove and two centers in Arlington Heights. To schedule a mammogram, call (847) 618-3700.

For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.