CHI Breast Center of Excellence

March 10, 2016

(PUEBLO, COLO) St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center has been named a Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI) Breast Center of Excellence, significantly raising the bar for the highest quality of breast care across the region. This milestone awarded by CHI, St. Mary-Corwins sponsor and the second largest nonprofit health system in the nation, demonstrates the hospitals unwavering commitment to meeting the needs of men and women throughout southeastern Colorado through each phase of breast health, from screenings to diagnosis, treatment to survivorship.

This prestigious achievement represents our continued commitment to provide the highest level of quality breast care to patients in our community, said Brian Moore, president and CEO, St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center. As the treatment of breast cancer has become more complex, there is a need for a more coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach to achieve a successful outcome. This nationally recognized level of excellence places us in the top one percent of the nation, reaffirming our devotion to women and men throughout southern Colorado who are diagnosed with breast cancer and need access to the best care.

CHI created its own model for Breast Centers of Excellence in 2010 in hopes of significantly raising the bar for breast cancer care at its 103 hospitals across the country. The model focuses on the needs of each patient, the use of evidence-based medicine in breast cancer treatment, and documentation of quality care. This model of excellence also ensures that patients have access to all appropriate technology, services, resources and support.

The CHI Breast Center of Excellence model, together with strong local leadership, has helped St. Mary-Corwin develop the standards necessary to achieve excellence, said Teresa Heckel, director, national oncology service line, CHI. As of January 2016, there are only 11 facilities in the nation that carry the elite distinction of all three accrediting bodies, and with over 8,000 breast centers in the U.S., that puts St. Mary-Corwin at the top 1 percent of breast centers for documented performance in the nation.

As a result of implementing the CHI model, the number of patients having to leave St. Mary-Corwin for breast care was drastically reduced by 79 percent. The breast center was also recognized by the National Consortium of Breast Centers for its best-practice in patient navigation. In addition, theyve reduced the time between screening and diagnosis by 80 percent and the time between diagnosis and treatment by 83 percent.

The CHI Breast Center of Excellence is awarded to facilities who receive accreditations from the American College of Radiology (ACR), Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers (NQMBC) Quality Breast Center of Excellence, in accordance with the National Consortium of Breast Centers (NCBC).

These accreditations come after extensive program requirements have been met, including the submittal of mammography databases, analytic breast cases, patient satisfaction rates, and best practice implementations, ensuring a balanced approach to the highest quality of breast care.

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About St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center
St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center is nationally recognized for its award-winning programs in womens services, orthopedics, cancer, cardiology, stroke, trauma and emergency services. St. Mary-Corwins expert team of physicians, nurses and caregivers provide compassionate, quality patient care, with access to the latest in medical technology. St. Mary-Corwin is part of Centura Health, the regions leading health care network. For more information visit St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center or follow us on Twitter@StMaryCorwinand onFacebook.

Media Contact
Wendi Dammann
Administrative Director, Business Development
St.Mary-Corwin Medical Center
719.557.3814
[email protected]