Savannah’s MUMC Breast Care Program Granted Prestigious Accreditation

Savannah, GA, December 24, 2009 --(PR.com)-- The breast care services at the Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah have been granted a full three-year accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program of the American College of Surgeons. Accreditation is only given to facilities that voluntarily commit to providing the highest level of breast care and pass a rigorous on-site evaluation and performance review. A physician from the NAPBC analyzed the ACI’s cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement programs and performed an onsite survey on November 16, 2009. This is a new accreditation and to date there are just over 100 centers across the United States that have undergone the process and achieved this prestigious accreditation accomplishment. ACI is the only facility in the region and one of only two centers to be accredited in the State of Georgia.

“The ACI is proud to offer our patients every significant advantage in the battle against breast cancer. We have the only physician practice in the region dedicated solely to women’s breast health (The Breast Center) with two, board-certified breast surgeon specialists. We also have a board-certified, dedicated, full-time breast imaging specialist. We offer comprehensive and fast mammography services, expert surgical care, the latest high-dose rate radiation therapy, a strong survivorship program, and a variety of support services,” said Steven Brower, M.D., FACS, senior vice president and director of the ACI.

The NAPBC accreditation ensures that patients have access to:
· Comprehensive care, including state-of-the art services and equipment
· A multispecialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
· Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
· Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
· Quality breast care close to home

The NAPBC represents a consortium of national professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast. More information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers can be found at www.accreditebreastcenters.org.

To learn more about the breast cancer services available at the ACI, visit aci.memorialhealth.com.

Memorial University Medical Center is a two-state healthcare organization serving a 35-county area in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. The system includes its flagship hospital, a 530-bed academic medical center; Memorial primary and specialty care physician networks; a major medical education program; business and industry services; and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. Visit our Web site at www.memorialhealth.com.

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