St. Joseph Health Cancer Center Breast Program Receives American College of Surgeons Reaccreditation
January 22, 2021 – Bryan, TX – Last month, the American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) reaccredited for the third time, the St. Joseph Health Cancer Center breast program, recognizing the program for maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered, multidisciplinary care resulting in high-quality care for patients with breast disease.
To achieve voluntary NAPBC accreditation, St. Joseph Health Cancer Center demonstrated compliance with the NAPBC standards that look at leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. Patients receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including psycho-social support, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivor’s quality of life.
This accreditation sets St. Joseph Health apart from other cancer centers because it evaluates our adherence to evidence-based standards and other hallmarks of quality programs, such as ensuring that newly diagnosed patients receive full navigation services and that each discipline on the center’s medical team touches every individual case.
“This accreditation showcases our commitment to ensuring our patients have access to all the resources they need in order to promote the best possible outcomes and that they feel comfortable and confident with their treatment choices along their journey,” said Misti Chapman, Director of the Cancer Center at St. Joseph Health.
Additionally, this accreditation certifies that each person on the Cancer Center team is knowledgeable about breast cancer, that we follow evidence-based guidelines (and have systems in place to monitor how well we adhere to them) and that we connect patients to genetic counselors to speak to them face-to-face about the meaning of their test results, if they meet the criteria for a hereditary screening.
The St. Joseph Health is also proud to offer Breast Health Navigators to all newly-diagnosed patients. These navigators follow all newly-diagnosed patients through the process of receiving care through our program, educating them about their treatment options and financial considerations and guiding them through every step of the process, from their initial appointments through to follow-up care.
The Cancer Center also reviews each patient’s case with the multidisciplinary team to gather input from physicians and specialists from a variety of backgrounds and provide the most comprehensive care possible. The team earned recognition for its over 12% clinical trials accrual rate, meaning that over 12% of our patients qualified for a credible trial and the center was able to place them into the trial. This accrual exceeds the benchmark 2% rate and indicates that St. Joseph Health physicians and research teams are diligently screening patients for clinical trial eligibility.
About St. Joseph Health
St. Joseph Health is comprised of five hospitals, two long term care facilities and multiple clinics across the Brazos Valley, including Regional Hospital in Bryan-College Station and St. Joseph Health – College Station Hospital (formerly College Station Medical Center). St. Joseph Health is home to a Level II Major Trauma Center, the highest in the region. St. Joseph Health is an academic and clinical partner of Texas A&M Health Science Center. Together, the St. Joseph and Texas A&M Health Network includes over 100 employed primary care physicians, specialists and advanced practice clinicians. As an active member of the Brazos Valley, St. Joseph Health is a leader in providing compassionate care and are committed to overall health of the community. We are part of CommonSpirit Health, the largest Catholic healthcare system in the United States, and is committed to advancing the health of all people and dedicated to serving the common good. Learn more about St. Joseph Health at St-Joseph.org.
[For more information, please contact Communications Manager Tracy Bates at 713-962-9347 or [email protected].]