Munster Breast Center receives national accreditation for care provided at Franciscan Health Munster

Munster Breast Center receives national accreditation for care provided at Franciscan Health Munster

The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation to The Munster Breast Center at Franciscan Health Munster.

To achieve voluntary NAPBC accreditation, a breast center demonstrates compliance with the NAPBC standards that look at a center’s leadership, clinical services, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement.  Breast centers seeking NAPBC accreditation undergo a site visit every three years.

As a NAPBC-accredited center, The Munster Breast Center is committed to maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered, multidisciplinary care resulting in high-quality care for patients with breast disease.  Patients receiving care at an NAPBC-accredited center have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including psycho-social support, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivor’s quality of life.

"The value that the accreditation offers our breast center can be seen throughout the program by addressing prevention, survivorship and end-of-life care. As a program, we continually strive to improve our multidisciplinary team to deliver the best care and treatment to our patients by providing access to education, patient services and the latest clinical research trials," said Patrick Maloney, president and CEO of Franciscan Health Dyer, Hammond and Munster.

In the accreditation report, surveyors commented, “This is an excellent center, demonstrating cohesiveness of care and dedication towards their patients. All participants are not only invested in the present, but through discussion with them demonstrate a vision for the future and how they would like to see their center grow.”

Surveyors also credited the Munster Breast Center’s work toward the goal of support and education of survivors. They also noted that the addition of a clinical research coordinator “will only serve this center’s patients positively.”

The Munster Breast Center opened with Franciscan Health Cancer Center Munster in 2018, providing comprehensive, state-of-the-art care, including:

  • 3-D mammography
  • Breast ultrasound
  • Automated Breast Ultrasound (ABUS – breast screening ultrasound)
  • Ultrasound-guided breast biopsy
  • Upright stereotactic breast biopsy
  • Breast MRI
  • Bone density exams
  • Weekly multidisciplinary breast conference
  • Breast surgery
  • Medical oncology services
  • Radiation therapy
  • Lymphedema services
  • Community education and outreach programs
  • Clinical Research
  • On-site genetic counseling
  • Oncology Licensed Clinical Social Worker
  • Certified Breast Navigator

The Munster Breast Center is located at 701 Superior Ave. in Munster. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (219) 922-4070.