Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™

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Midwestern Named Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™

In September 2012, Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) at Midwestern Regional Medical Center (Midwestern) achieved the certification level as a Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™.

The CTCA at Midwestern breast center is the only center in Illinois, and one of only 33 centers in the country, to achieve this level of certification by the National Quality Measures for Breast Centers Program^® (NQMBC™), cementing the hospital's position as a national leader in breast cancer care.

Preceding the NQMBC certification, the hospital’s breast program earned a three-year full accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) in 2010.

How is the Certification Determined?

The National Consortium of Breast Centers uses 36 National Quality Indicators™ to evaluate breast programs in the areas of imaging, surgery, cancer registry, pathology, radiation and patient satisfaction.

The Certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence™ is the highest certification level. The centers chosen for this designation have met the highest quality standards in breast cancer care.

What Does it Mean for Our Patients?

In order to achieve this certification, CTCA at Midwestern had to prove, with three-year’s worth of data, that our patients were:

Provided with the opportunity to report on their satisfaction regarding the care they received
Provided with follow-up and care in a timely manner
Provided with care that is individualized to their unique situation
Provided with accurate care and diagnosis
Provided with comprehensive treatment options

“Being a certified Quality Breast Center of Excellence means that we can offer our patients multiple defenses against cancer,” says Dr. Stephen P. Ray, Medical Director of the Breast Center and Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Surgery at CTCA at Midwestern.

“This certification demonstrates that we not only offer compassionate care and innovative treatments, but also that our patients can rest easy knowing that our medical staff is held to high standards of quality,” Dr. Ray adds.

Clinical Innovations in Breast Cancer Treatment at CTCA

The Breast Cancer Program at CTCA offers leading-edge clinical therapies combined with supportive therapies for breast cancer patients:

Breast-Sparing Surgery: Whenever possible, our surgical team performs breast-sparing surgery, such as lumpectomies and partial breast mastectomies. During breast surgery, our pathologists can evaluate tissue samples as they are removed and provide pathology results immediately, so we can remove as much cancerous tissue as possible and avoid multiple surgeries.
Innovative Breast Reconstruction: Our surgeons excel in oncoplastic and reconstructive methods to remove a breast tumor and carefully reshape the breast in one surgery, minimizing scarring and maintaining as much of the breast tissue as possible. We can perform autologous fat grafting using the patient’s own fat tissue from another part of the body to rebuild the breast so it looks and feels like a normal breast, with no visible incisions.
Advanced Radiation Therapies: Our advanced radiation technologies allow us to re-treat previously treated areas that have a recurrence. With Intraoperative Radiation Therapy (IORT), we can deliver radiation directly to a tumor site immediately after the tumor is removed, sparing healthy tissues/organs and shortening treatment times, often from six weeks of radiation therapy to one session.
Options for Metastatic Breast Cancer: Our physicians have expertise in treating breast cancer that has spread to other areas of the body, such as the bone, liver, lungs, skin and brain. We may use radiofrequency ablation for breast cancer patients with metastasis to the liver, Endobronchial Ultrasound System (EBUS) for metastasis to the lungs, or kyphoplasty for metastasis to the bone.
Lymphedema Prevention & Management: We can perform a sentinel node biopsy prior to surgery to determine whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes and reduce the risk of lymphedema. We also provide a lymphedema management program to help patients manage the condition.
Side-Effect Management & Support: Our experts provide nutrition therapy and naturopathic medicine to help combat unwanted side effects and keep you strong so you can tolerate treatment. Also, we’ll provide mind-body medicine, rehabilitation, spiritual counseling, and image enhancement services to help you deal with physical changes and emotional distress.

How is CTCA Different?

At CTCA, we fight cancer with advanced technology and a personalized approach to promote healing all on all levels: body, mind and spirit. The following are some ways we are different:

Focus on Treating Cancer: Our hospitals are designed for cancer patients, and our physicians have expertise in treating advanced-stage and complex diseases.
Team of Cancer Experts: You will have a dedicated team of cancer experts, all of whom reside in the same location and meet several times a week about your care.
Individualized Treatment Plan: You will receive an individualized treatment plan that is tailored to your unique needs and situation.
Patient Empowered Care^®: During your appointments in our hospital, your care team members come to you, one after another, for a focused, seamless visit.
Integrated Treatment in One Place: You'll find everything you need at our hospital, including advanced cancer treatments fully integrated with supportive therapies.
We Make Travel Easy: Our travel consultants handle all of the details of your visit, including your transportation and lodging arrangements.
Efficient Scheduling & Reduced Wait Times: Scheduling is convenient, your appointments are automatically bundled into a sequential block, and there are reduced wait times for test results.
Survival & Treatment Results: We publish our results in the areas of survival, quality of life and patient experience to help you make more informed treatment decisions.