St. Joseph Health Cancer Center Reaccredited as a Breast Center of Excellence

(Bryan, Texas, July 10, 2017) – St. Joseph Health Cancer Center has been reaffirmed a Breast Center of Excellence by The American College of Surgeons National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), who recognized the program for its excellence in clinical trials associated with breast cancer. St. Joseph Health Cancer Center is the only cancer program in the Brazos Valley with a Breast Center of Excellence. The surveyor who visited the cancer center described the commitment of St. Joseph Health physicians, support staff and administration as “impressive” and added “The desire to continuously improve processes, creatively identify funding and engage the community on breast health issues is commendable,” the surveyor said. This marks the second time our breast program has gone through the Breast Center of Excellence accreditation process with NAPBC, which represents a consortium of national and professional organizations dedicated to improving the quality of care and monitoring of patients with diseases of the breast. “This accreditation sets us apart from other cancer centers, because it evaluates our adherence to evidence-based standards and other hallmarks of quality programs, such as ensuring that newly diagnosed patients receive full navigation services and that each discipline on the center’s medical team touches every individual case,” said Misti Chapman, Cancer Center Director. Our Breast Health Navigators follow all newly-diagnosed patients through the process of receiving care through our program, educating them about their treatment options and financial considerations and guiding them through every step of the process, from their initial appointments through to follow-up care. The Cancer Center also reviews each patient’s case with the multidisciplinary team to gather input from physicians and specialists from a variety of backgrounds and provide the most comprehensive care possible. The accreditation also certifies that each person on the Cancer Center team is knowledgeable about breast cancer, that we follow evidence-based guidelines and that we connect patients to genetic counselors to speak to them face-to-face about the meaning of their test results, if they meet the criteria for a hereditary screening. The team earned recognition for its 15% clinical trials accrual rate, meaning that 15% of our patients qualified for a credible trial and the center was able to place them into the trial. Chapman said our accrual exceeds the average 2% rate and indicates our physicians and research team are diligently screening patients for clinical trial eligibility. ### About St. Joseph Health Cancer Center As the Brazos Valley's leader in cancer care, St. Joseph Health Cancer Center in Bryan, Texas offers complete services to identify and treat breast, prostate, lung, colon, and many other cancers. Our cancer center includes the most advanced diagnostics and clinical treatments available, all performed by board-certified cancer doctors – oncologists, radiologists and surgeons. Additionally, the About St. Joseph Health Established in 1936, St. Joseph Health is a faith-based, not-for-profit health system committed to excellence and compassion in caring for the mind, body and spirit while creating healthier communities. St. Joseph Health is comprised of five hospital facilities across the Brazos Valley, including St. Joseph Health Regional Hospital, the region’s highest level trauma center. St. Joseph Health Medical Group operates more than a dozen primary and specialty care clinics around the region, offering expert care, closer to home. St. Joseph Health is a part of Catholic Health Initiatives (CHI), one of the nation’s largest health systems. Headquartered in Englewood, Colorado, CHI operates in 17 states and comprises more than 104 hospitals, including four academic medical centers and teaching hospitals; 30E critical-access facilities; community health services organizations; accredited nursing colleges; home health agencies; and other services that span the inpatient and outpatient continuum of care. For more information, visit chistjoseph.org.