Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven Receives National Accreditation

12/9/11 - The Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven has been granted a three-year full accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), an accrediting body administered by the American College of Surgeons. The Center's affiliation with Yale Cancer Center makes it the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in New England to also have the NAPBC accreditation.

"We're very pleased that the Breast Center at Smilow Cancer Hospital has received this national recognition," said Anees Chagpar, MD, director, Breast Center, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale-New Haven and co-chair of the Connecticut Cancer Partnership Education committee. "Now, we are not only recognized for having some of the finest minds trying to find the latest cancer treatments as a leading academic research institution - but also for delivering the highest quality comprehensive patient-centered care."

Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process. During the survey, 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.

"I have surveyed many good programs," said Arnold H. Herman, MD, a surveyor for the NAPBC and the Commission on Cancer, "and a few great programs, but this is the first superlative program I have seen...it is clearly a 'best practice.'"

Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to comprehensive care, including a full range of the most advanced services; a multidisciplinary team approach to treatment; information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.

"Connecticut has the second highest rate of breast cancer in the country," said Dr. Chagpar. "To have an NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center with an NAPBC-accredited breast center right here at home is a reflection of our commitment to our patients and our community, and our dedication to providing them with the pinnacle of quality in terms of breast cancer research and treatment."

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers is a consortium of national, professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and the monitoring of outcomes for patients with diseases of the breast.

{Yale-New Haven Hospital news release  ynhhpublicrelations@ynhh.com} 

Navigation Conference Takes Shape

A statewide conference on patient navigation will be held on April 17, 2012, organized by the Partnership as a result of a grant from the Connecticut Department of Public Health. Since the award was granted in October, Partnership staff has delved into this burgeoning field, excited about playing a role in the development of a fairly new concept that has now become a Commission on Cancer accreditation standard.

A planning session, attended by representatives of patient navigation programs throughout Connecticut, helped to guide the program development. The preliminary agenda for the day-long conference features two plenary sessions, as well as two breakout sessions where attendees will have the opportunity to enhance their skills or learn more about building a Navigation Program within their own facilities.  Nationally recognized speakers and experts will instruct the audience on issues such as integration of quality care, interdisciplinary case studies that address barriers, different models of navigation, securing hospital board "buy-in" for programs, and measuring the effectiveness of programs through data. Registration for the Navigation Conference will open in early March.

Project Coordinator Amanda Sadlon attended the Harold P. Freeman Institute for Patient Navigation, the premier training program launched by and named after the pioneer in the field, Dr. Harold P. Freeman, who identified the value of identification and removal of barriers to breast cancer screening in 1990, with funding from the American Cancer Society. Ms. Sadlon will also attend the Best Practices and Strategies for Oncology Nurse Navigation Leadership conference later this month in Orlando, FL. Participating in these nationwide trainings and meeting luminaries in the field has informed the development of a relevant and current approach to the creation of the agenda for our conference.  

"It's a wonderful opportunity for the Partnership to play a role in this arena, which is still in its infancy.  Working with our partners in the State together we will help mold future navigation programs in Connecticut. This is an opportunity to make an impact on the future of cancer care in this State, especially for patients with access issues," Ms. Sadlon said.

For more information about the conference, please contact Amanda Sadlon. To learn more about Patient Navigation, Partnership Director Lucinda Hogarty recommends: National Patient Navigation Leadership Summit: Measuring the Impact and Potential of Patient Navigation.