Breast Care Program Receives Prestigious Breast Center Accreditation

A three-year, full accreditation with commendation designation recently was granted to The Greater Baltimore Medical Center’s Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, a program of the Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute, and its affiliated Advanced Radiology Breast Imaging Center by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC). This is GBMC’s third consecutive NAPBC designation since its first accreditation in 2009. The full accreditation program, administered by the American College of Surgeons, is only awarded to centers that voluntarily undergo an evaluation and review performance process. “This NAPBC accreditation is a wonderful honor,” says Lauren Schnaper, M.D., medical director of The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center. “Earning this accreditation reinforces that GBMC is providing the highest level of compassionate care to breast cancer patients, with a multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best care possible including clinical trials and new treatment options.”

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. According to the NAPBC performance report, The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center at GBMC is “a model center” and “all the components run efficiently and coordinate well to make an exemplary program.” The report also gave the center a commendation for having no deficiencies in all six categories of review: center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. “We are very proud of our entire breast cancer team,” says Gary Cohen, M.D., medical director of The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute at GBMC. “Having earned the NAPBC accreditation is a huge honor and a testament to the care and legitimate compassion that Dr. Schnaper and her team are providing to each and every patient that we provide care for.”

The Advanced Radiology Breast Imaging Center was also recognized in the report for being “very knowledgeable” in the NAPBC performance report. “Breast care at GBMC is truly integrated and has set the standard for breast centers in the state,” said H. Alexander Munitz, M.D., chairman of diagnostic radiology and co-director of The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Comprehensive Breast Care Center, noting the GBMC Advanced Radiology site performs more breast biopsies annually than at any other hospital statewide. A breast center that achieves the accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease. Program standards say that receiving care at an 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.
• Quality breast care close to home.

Recognized nationally and locally, The Sandra and Malcolm Berman Cancer Institute sees more breast cancer patients than any other community hospital in Maryland. Oncology care is provided in a variety of settings including outpatient, inpatient, home care and hospice.