by Carole Masterson
Fayetteville, AR — On January 14, 2014, the doctors and staff at The Breast Center, a MANA clinic, received a package in the mail with some long awaited news. The Breast Center, a Fayetteville clinic, has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
The Breast Center is the only Breast Center of Excellence in Northwest Arkansas and one of three in the state.
“We have not changed the way we care for women,” says Dr. Kevin Pope, a clinical breast radiologist and co-founder of The Breast Center, “but we now have the highest level of recognition a breast imaging center can receive. “
With the Breast Center of Excellence designation, women can be confident they receive the best breast screening and diagnostic care available in the country at The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas.
For the past two years, the staff at The Breast Center, a MANA clinic, have been working diligently with the ACR to complete the accreditation process. By awarding facilities the status of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.
Peer-review evaluations, conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field, have determined that this facility has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs.
“This is a big accomplishment for the whole care team. “ says Sarah Faitak, the Director of The Breast Center. She added, “our mammography technologists, ultrasound technologists, nurses and doctors worked together to provide the detailed reports, images and data to qualify for this designation.
The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
“We are so fortunate in Northwest Arkansas to have this high level quality of care provided by The Breast Center. The Komen Ozark Affiliate congratulates them on this accomplishment,” says Mary Alfrey, Executive Director of the Ozark Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
In 2003, Drs. Danna Grear and Kevin Pope established The Breast Center of Northwest Arkansas as the first independent facility in Arkansas dedicated solely to breast imaging. Drs. Stacy Smith-Foley and Kelly Johnson are fellowship-trained in breast imaging and Dr. Steven Harms, a world-renowned Breast MRI expert, returned to Arkansas to provide the only dedicated breast MRI in Northwest Arkansas. In 2006, the physicians opened a second location in Bentonville. The clinical breast radiologists and their team of experienced staff are committed to providing comprehensive breast care for women, with the latest screening tests, customized screening plans, and expert diagnostic care.
For more information on the BICOE Award:
5 Benefits of Having a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence