WHHS Women's Center Named Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

Fremont, Calif., July 16, 2012 – The Washington Hospital Healthcare System’s Washington Women’s Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This designation is given only to those Breast Imaging Centers that have demonstrated high quality in all areas of breast imaging.

“We are very pleased that the ACR has recognized the excellent work of our Women’s Center,” WHHS Chief Executive Officer Nancy Farber said.

As a Center of Excellence, the Women’s Center is now accredited in stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. The Center had to pass stringent requirements to earn this important designation. Since it opened in 2007, the Women’s Center has been accredited by the ACR in mammography and by the American College of Surgeons’ National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

“Achieving the ACR Center of Excellence designation demonstrates our ongoing commitment to providing the highest quality of services for our patients,” Farber added. “We are pleased that our rigorous quality standards and commitment to excellent patient care has led to our Women’s Center being recognized as a leader in breast imaging technologies and services.”

The Women’s Center offers a broad range of breast diagnostic services, according to Laura Constantine, RN, coordinator of the Women’s Center.

“The Center’s breast health navigators guide patients through all types of medical procedures, from required biopsies to surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. The Breast Tumor Board of specialists meets every other week to review each patient’s case,”said Constantine.

“The Center staff arranges breast care conferences with the breast cancer team for patients and their families and friends. This allows patients and their families to discuss their treatment plan options with all the physicians involved in their care. And, the Center offers a variety of support groups as well as referrals to the Lymphedema Program and to services offered by the HERS Breast Cancer Foundation that is located in our facility,” Constantine added.

Clayton Sharpe, Washington Hospital’s Director of Medical Imaging, said that earning the ACR designation required the Washington Women’s Center to meet more rigorous standards for image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs. “We voluntarily met all of these standards in addition to those required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and by the ACR to be an accredited Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. This is an added stamp of approval that assures our patients of an extra level of quality,” noted Sharpe. Women’s Center ultrasound technologists are certified by the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography and mammography technologists are certified by the American Registry of Radiological Technologists and the California Registry of Radiological Technologists.

Additional information about the diagnostic programs, health screenings and education classes offered at the Washington Women’s Center may be obtained online at www.whhs.com/womenscenter or by calling 510.608.1301. The Washington Women’s Center is located at 2500 Mowry Avenue, Suite 150 (in Washington West) in Fremont.

About Washington Township Health Care District: Washington Township Health Care District is governed by an elected board of directors. Unlike a municipal or county hospital, Washington Hospital’s operating expenses, research, community programs, and employee salaries are funded by revenues generated through providing patient and other health care services. Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 389-bed acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization Laboratory; the Institute for Joint Restoration and Research; the Institute for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and the Washington West building, which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos R.N. Infusion Center, Washington Urgent Care and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.