Baylor Plano Breast Cancer Program Accredited by the NAPBC

Earns Distinction from Other Area Programs

PLANO, Texas, March 17, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) has been granted a three-year/full accreditation designation to Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. Baylor Plano is the only hospital in Collin County accredited by NAPBC; the accreditation includes Baylor Diagnostic Imaging Center at Craig Ranch, an outpatient department of Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. NAPBC is 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 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 15 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.

"As a member of the Baylor Plano medical staff, it is an honor that our commitment to provide quality breast care to our patients has been recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers," Lynn Canavan, M.D., breast surgeon and medical director of breast surgery at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 192,370 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2009.(1) In addition, 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 NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to:

• Comprehensive care, including a full range of advanced 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

In addition, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano. Accredited cancer programs are also assigned an Accreditation Category that describes the services available at the facility. Baylor Plano is the only hospital in Collin County to be designated a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program. This level of accreditation means that a facility treats 650 or more cancer patients each year and provides a wide range of diagnostic and treatment services available on site.

Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano is a 112-bed acute care hospital committed to serving North Texas residents with personalized care and advanced technology. Services at the not-for-profit, fully-accredited facility include treatment for advanced spine deformities at the Baylor Scoliosis Center, neurosciences, orthopaedics, medical and radiation oncology, surgical weight loss, women's services, gynecology, urology, gastroenterology, pulmonary medicine, sleep disorders, pain management, diabetes management and more. Baylor Plano is a 2010 recipient of the Texas Award for Performance Excellence. Jerri Garison is president of Baylor Plano. For more information, log onto www.BaylorHealth.com/Plano.

Baylor Plano is part of Baylor Health Care System.

(1) American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2009. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2009.

SOURCE Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano