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KP Vallejo Medical Center Breast Care Center Re-accredited

Designation recognizes ongoing commitment to quality treatment of breast disease

The Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Breast Care Center has received a new three-year accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons.

The Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center Breast Care Center was the first Breast Care Center in Solano County to receive the NAPBC designation three years ago. Six other Kaiser Permanente sites in Northern California also have the NAPBC designation: Oakland, Central Valley, Martinez, San Rafael, Santa Clara and Santa Rosa.

Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.

During the survey process, the Breast Care Center demonstrated compliance with 27 standards established by the NAPBC for treating patients who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas such as center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement.

As a NAPBC-accredited center, Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center continues to demonstrate a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease. Patients who receive care at the Kaiser Permanente Vallejo Medical Center’s Breast Care Center 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.“Being re-accredited validates the care we provide every day,” says Dr. Gillian Kuehner, breast cancer surgeon and director of the Breast Care Center. “We strive to provide the best care to our patients. To be recognized for our comprehensive care and multi-disciplinary approach tells us that we are on the right path.”

That multi-disciplinary approach to breast cancer treatment is a hallmark of the Breast Care Center at Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center. A Breast Care Conference is held every Tuesday at the hospital with representatives from surgery, radiology, pathology, oncology, nursing and radiation oncology all in attendance.

“All newly diagnosed breast cancer patients are reviewed during these conferences,” said Dr. Kuehner. “The patient’s clinical presentation is discussed, appropriate imaging and pathology reviewed, and pertinent medical and family history are assessed. A preliminary treatment recommendation is then formulated with input from a variety of disciplines, giving the patient a comprehensive treatment plan that is completely individual and unique to their personal circumstances. We personalize the care for each patient.”

Clinical trials are also a valuable tool available to patients at the Breast Care Center. The Kaiser Permanente Northern California Oncology Clinical Trials program is based at the Vallejo Medical Center and is one of the leading clinical trial groups in the nation.

“Our robust National Cancer Institute sponsored oncology clinical trials research program allows members to participate in new cancer treatments even before they are FDA approved,” said Dr. Lou Fehrenbacher, hematologist/oncologist and director of the Oncology Clinical Trials program. “Having that level of access to new treatments helps us provide the best care to all of our patients and places our doctors at the front of medical advances.”

 

For more information on the Breast Care Center, visit: kp.org/napasolano/breastcarecenter