Fremont, Calif., July 16, 2012 – The Washington Hospital Healthcare System’s Washington Women’s
Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the
American College of Radiology (ACR). This designation is given only to
those Breast Imaging Centers that have demonstrated high quality in all
areas of breast imaging.
“We are very pleased that the ACR has recognized the excellent work
of our Women’s Center,” WHHS Chief Executive Officer Nancy
Farber said.
As a Center of Excellence, the Women’s Center is now accredited in
stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast
biopsy. The Center had to pass stringent requirements to earn this important
designation. Since it opened in 2007, the Women’s Center has been
accredited by the ACR in mammography and by the American College of Surgeons’
National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.
“Achieving the ACR Center of Excellence designation demonstrates
our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of services for
our patients,” Farber added. “We are pleased that our rigorous
quality standards and commitment to excellent patient care has led to
our Women’s Center being recognized as a leader in breast imaging
technologies and services.”
The Women’s Center offers a broad range of breast diagnostic services,
according to Laura Constantine, RN, coordinator of the Women’s Center.
“The Center’s breast health navigators guide patients through
all types of medical procedures, from required biopsies to surgery, radiation
and chemotherapy. The Breast Tumor Board of specialists meets every other
week to review each patient’s case,”said Constantine.
“The Center staff arranges breast care conferences with the breast
cancer team for patients and their families and friends. This allows patients
and their families to discuss their treatment plan options with all the
physicians involved in their care. And, the Center offers a variety of
support groups as well as referrals to the Lymphedema Program and to services
offered by the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation that is located in our facility,”
Constantine added.
Clayton Sharpe, Washington Hospital’s Director of Medical Imaging,
said that earning the ACR designation required the Washington Women’s
Center to meet more rigorous standards for image quality, personnel qualifications,
facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.
“We voluntarily met all of these standards in addition to those
required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by the ACR to be
an accredited Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. This is an added stamp
of approval that assures our patients of an extra level of quality,”
noted Sharpe. Women’s Center ultrasound technologists are certified
by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography and mammography
technologists are certified by the American Registry of Radiological Technologists
and the California Registry of Radiological Technologists.
Additional information about the diagnostic programs, health screenings
and education classes offered at the Washington Women’s Center may
be obtained online at www.whhs.com/womenscenter or by calling (510) 608-1301.
The Washington Women’s Center is located at 2500 Mowry Avenue, Suite
150 (in Washington West) in Fremont.
About Washington Township Health Care District: Washington Township Health Care District is governed by an elected board
of directors. Unlike a municipal or county hospital, Washington Hospital’s
operating expenses, research, community programs, and employee salaries
are funded by revenues generated through providing patient and other health
care services. Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 389-bed
acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The
Gamma Knife® Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington
Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center;
Washington Outpatient Catheterization Laboratory; the Institute for Joint
Restoration and Research; the Institute for Minimally Invasive and Robotic
Surgery; and the Washington West building, which houses Washington Women’s
Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos R.N. Infusion Center, Washington
Urgent Care and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative
facilities.