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NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital’s Ashikari Breast Center has received a three-year full accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

Only those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance receive accreditation by the NAPBC.

"It takes a certain level of physician and administrative leadership to achieve this national benchmark," said Pond Kelemen, MD, of the Ashikari Breast Center who led the accreditation efforts. "Given the ground-breaking reputation of the Ashikari Breast Center and the multi-disciplinary team of physicians, nursing staff and support services offered at the Cheryl R. Lindenbaum Cancer Center, this accreditation was a natural conclusion."

"This NAPBC accreditation speaks volumes about the quality of cancer services we offer," said NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital President John C. Federspiel. "When we opened the Cheryl R. Lindenbaum Cancer Center three years ago, we envisioned a place where patients could get quality care and support services in one location, close to home. We have achieved this and so much more."

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
• Quality breast care close to home.

To receive the accreditation, the breast center had to demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast diseases. 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.

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.