SUBMITTED NEWS RELEASE
Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer has announced it has earned Breast MRI accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR), the first hospital in the region to receive accreditation. ACR recognizes facilities that have met rigorous national standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.
“As a leader in breast health, it is important for our Center to maintain national accreditation in all modalities. This achievement shows how dedicated our staff is to providing great patient care,” said Patty Sredy, administrative director of oncology services at Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer. “Accreditation programs are designed to encourage facilities to achieve and exceed national quality standards, therefore improving healthcare options for patients.”
Recommended by institutions across the country, including the American Cancer Society, Breast MRI can be used in the detection, monitoring and treatment of breast cancer. This form of scan is a valuable tool for screening women who are at high risk for developing breast cancer, determining the extent of cancer after a new diagnosis, evaluating hard-to-assess abnormalities seen on a mammography screening, evaluating lumpectomy sites in the years following breast cancer treatment, evaluating breasts with implants and tracking chemotherapy in patients who receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Additionally, this form of scan is a safer alternative for patients because it does not involve exposure to ionizing radiation.
The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va. is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians and medical physicists with programs that focus on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive healthcare services.
To learn more about Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer, visit www.saintmarysreno.org.
About Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer
Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer (SMCC) is an accredited Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. The Center serves as a leader in cancer research, patient care, survivorship and professional and public education. Home to the most advanced technology, SMCC offers the region’s only CyberKnife, a non-invasive radiation delivery system that offers pinpoint accuracy when treating tumors. Additionally, in Dec. 2010, SMCC received accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, becoming the first accredited breast program in the state. For more information about Saint Mary’s Center for Cancer please call (775) 770-7410.
About Saint Mary’s
Saint Mary’s Network is a fully-integrated, faith-based health system in Reno, Nev. founded in 1908 by the Dominican Sisters of San Rafael. The network is comprised of Saint Mary’s Regional Medical Center, an acute-care hospital, providing inpatient, outpatient and wellness services; Saint Mary’s Health Plans, a statewide insurance provider with more than 40,000 members; and Saint Mary’s Medical Group, a network of physicians and other health professionals offering primary and urgent care, retail clinics and specialty healthcare. A member of Catholic Healthcare West, Saint Mary’s is dedicated to meeting the healthcare needs of our community. For more information, visit our website at www.saintmarysreno.org.
About Catholic Healthcare West
Catholic Healthcare West (CHW), headquartered in San Francisco, CA, is a system of 40 hospitals and medical centers in California, Arizona, and Nevada. Founded in 1986, it is one of the nation’s largest not-for-profit health care systems and the largest private hospital system in California. CHW is committed to delivering compassionate, high-quality, affordable health care services with special attention to the poor and underserved. The CHW network of nearly 10,000 physicians and approximately 54,000 employees provides health care services to more than five million people annually. In 2010, CHW provided more than $1.3 billion in charity care, community benefit, and unreimbursed patient care. For more information, please visit our website at www.chwHEALTH.org.
