SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., – Regional West is pleased to announce that its Breast Health Center has again been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Additionally, the Breast Health Center has successfully completed its Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) annual survey, passing the rigorous evaluation with no adverse observations; therefore no recommendations for improvement were mandated.

“Mammography is the most highly regulated imaging modality. The success of the Breast Health program is the result of a passionate team that dedicates their efforts on a daily basis to ensure the highest quality standards,” said Stephen Johnson, MD, PhD. “The Breast Health Center undergoes an onsite MQSA survey by the FDA annually. The inspections have been successful due to diligent and precise documentation.”

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report that can be used for continuous practice improvement.

To operate lawfully, a mammography facility must be MQSA certified as providing quality mammography services. Requirements cover personnel, equipment, radiation dose, quality assurance programs, and recordkeeping and reporting.

“I am very proud of the high quality effort that the Breast Health Center staff has accomplished over the last 13 years for the MQSA accreditation survey and the ACR equipment accreditation,” said Sharon McKinney, Director of Imaging Services. “There have been no adverse observations by the Federal MQSA surveyor or the ACR survey and no recommendations for improvement from 2003 through 2016. Patients can feel confident that the services provided by the Breast Health Center are of the highest quality and of great value to the community.”

The Breast Health Center at Regional West provides comprehensive breast health care, from screening and diagnosis to breast cancer risk assessments and genetic testing. The Breast Health Center team includes an on-site radiologist who specializes in breast imaging. This means shorter waiting times for patients, allowing them to make informed decisions about their care in a timely manner. For individuals who are diagnosed with breast cancer, the Breast Health Center offers the services of a patient navigator who will guide them through each step of the post-diagnosis process.

Regional West Health Services in Scottsbluff, Neb., is the parent company of Regional West Medical Center, a 182-bed regional referral center and one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state. As the region’s only tertiary referral medical center, Regional West offers care that spans more than 32 medical specialties provided by over 28 physician clinics. With nearly 300 providers, and over 2,000 employees, Regional West provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota, and Wyoming. 

PHOTO CUTLINE: Regional West’s Breast Health Center has again been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in mammography by the American College of Radiology and also successfully completed its Mammography Quality Standards Act annual survey with no citations. The Breast Health Center team includes (back row, left to right) Gitesh Chheda, MD, technologists Sherri Eubank and Barb Schmer, Stephen Johnson, MD, PhD, (seated) technologists Tina Romey, Kim Reitz, and Breast Health Center supervisor/technologist Lanna Zulkowski.