Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital Earns National Accreditation

The Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital, a Care New England hospital, 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. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. The Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital opened in January 2010, and has received full NAPBC accreditation three times since its inception. The program is a collaboration with Women & Infants Hospital.

During the survey process, the Breast Health Center demonstrated 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: patient navigation, breast cancer surveillance, pathology, support and rehabilitation, and educational resources. 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.

The surveyor recognized the depth and strength of the program, noting that “… the Breast Health Center at Kent is an outstanding jewel of a community breast program, with the benefits of a small community and the strengths of a partnership with an academic tertiary center.” The surveyors also recognized the leadership of Candace L. Dyer, MD, the hard work of medical and radiation oncology staff, the outstanding imaging and pathology services, and the engaged plastic surgery services.

The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the 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 20 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; and, most importantly, quality breast care close to home.

For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit their website at accreditedbreastcenters.org.

For more information on the Breast Health Center at Kent Hospital, call (401) 736-3737 or visit kentri.org/services/breast-health/.

About Kent Hospital

Kent Hospital, a Care New England Hospital, is a 359-bed, acute care hospital. It is Rhode Island’s second largest hospital, serving approximately 300,000 residents of central Rhode Island.

A teaching affiliate of The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kent offers programs in Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine and an Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine Fellowship. Kent’s redesigned Emergency Department (ED) sees approximately 70,000 patients a year and ranks Kent’s ED volume among the top 10-percent nationally. It was the first hospital in the state to eliminate the practice of ambulance diversion.