Breast Center designated ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

Includes earned accreditation in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy

The Breast Center on the Norton Hospital campus has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). This accreditation includes mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. Accreditation is granted by the ACR to facilities that have achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 34,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists. Its programs focus on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Board-certified experts from the ACR conducted an intensive peer review of the Norton Healthcare facility. Assessments were made on image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs. Upon completion of the review, the Breast Center was awarded the ACR gold seal of accreditation, representing the highest level of image quality and patient safety. The Breast Center has thus been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence and was granted a three-year accreditation term in stereotactic and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

Nancy Pile, M.D., is director of the Breast Center.

“We are very pleased to have been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. We work hard to maintain high practice standards and know that our patients feel safe and comfortable in coming to the Breast Center. This accreditation keeps us motivated to care for our patients in the best way possible,” Dr. Pile said.

With 1 in 8 U.S. women developing invasive breast cancer, having the right resources could save a life. The Breast Center provides local patients with high-quality preventive care and treatment, and is the first Norton Healthcare facility to be designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the ACR.