Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, has again earned a three-year accreditation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence from the American College of Radiology (ACR). The designation came after a survey of the hospital’s diagnostic imaging facilities.
Women & Infants first achieved this designation in 2009 based on the hospital’s accreditation in three areas of breast imaging – mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy and breast ultrasound. Since then, the hospital has maintained this designation. This year, with the advancements in breast imaging technology, the ACR further refined the qualifications for designation with the addition of accreditation in breast MRI.
“We are so delighted to continue our designation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. This is a true testament not only to the skill and expertise of our staff, but also to our commitment to ensuring that we are on the cutting edge, offering the most advanced imaging technologies for the women and newborns of our region,” said Susan Koelliker, MD, chief of the Department of Diagnostic Imaging.
ACR awards accreditation to facilities that have achieved high practice standards. The evaluations are conducted by board-certified radiologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualification of a facility’s personnel and the adequacy of its equipment.
Women & Infants is one of only a few sites in the region to achieve accreditation in all four modalities of breast imaging and was the first facility in Rhode Island to offer digital breast tomosynthesis, an advanced breast imaging technology that gives radiologists a three-dimensional look at breast tissue and a clearer and more comprehensive review. The result has been a 15 percent increase in early detection of breast cancer and a reduction in false positives, which require further testing and can cause patients unnecessary anxiety.
To schedule an appointment for any of the breast imaging tests, please contact the Department of Diagnostic Imaging at (401) 274-1122, ext. 41248.
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