MUSC Hollings Cancer Center Designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence
August 24, 2010
Center Meets Rigorous Standards Set by American College of Radiology
CHARLESTON, SC – August 24, 2010 – Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
By awarding the status of a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, the ACR recognizes breast imaging centers that have earned accreditation in all of the College’s voluntary, breast-imaging accreditation programs and modules, in addition to the mandatory Mammography Accreditation Program.
“Having state-of-the-art imaging and highly-trained staff is crucial to diagnosing cancer and delivering treatment as early as possible. This greatly increases the chances of long-term survival,” said Etta Pisano, MD, Dean of the MUSC College of Medicine and a renowned breast cancer imaging researcher. “Centers of Excellence designations are awarded only after rigorous review; this recognition demonstrates MUSC’s commitment to our patients.”
The breast imaging services at Hollings are fully accredited in digital mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy. Peer-review evaluations conducted by board-certified experts in the field determined that Hollings met high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs.
“This award is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all of the personnel, both technical and professional, who work in the subspecialty of breast imaging diagnosis,” said Thomas Pope, MD, director of the Hollings Breast Imaging Program. “We are very proud of our team.”
Teresa Harrison, breast imaging coordinator at Hollings, said the award signals to patients that the Hollings is committed to the highest standards of care and technology.
“Imaging is critical for each patient’s medical team when deciding a course of treatment,” Harrison said. “We owe our patients this level of expertise and commitment.”
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 for focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology, as well as the delivery of comprehensive health care services.
About Hollings Cancer Center
Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina is a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center and the largest academic-based cancer program in South Carolina. The cancer center has more than $35M in cancer research funding and more than 200 people are currently participating on a cancer clinical trial at HCC. For more information, please visit www.hcc.musc.edu.
