Overlake's Breast Health program earns first national accreditation in Seattle area

The Breast Health program at Overlake Hospital Medical Center is the first in the greater Seattle area to receive a three-year, full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

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.

ìThis is a significant achievement that sets a new standard for high quality, comprehensive breast care,î said Kristi Harrington, MD, PhD, breast surgeon and chairperson of Overlakeís Breast Health program. ìEarning this distinction demonstrates our commitment to breast health and gives women important information when making the decision about where to go for treatment.î

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. During the survey process, 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.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 192,370 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 2011

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