FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2009

St. John’s Mercy Breast Center First in Missouri to Receive NAPBC Accreditation

St. John’s Mercy Medical Center has been granted a three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. St. John’s Mercy is the first and only breast center in Missouri to receive the designation and one of only 23 nationally.

Accreditation by the NAPBC is given only to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and 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 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.

St. John’s Mercy’s Breast Center provides a wide spectrum of screening and diagnostic options for breast disease at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center and locations throughout St. Louis. Breast health services include education, prevention, early detection and treatment of breast cancer and other breast diseases.

The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving 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.

Receiving care at a NAPBC-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.

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

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