Last month the Mroz-Baier Breast Care Center received accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. The endorsement recognizes the clinic for being committed to the highest level of quality breast care.

 

A full-scale diagnosis and treatment facility, Mroz-Baier has specialized in the care of the breast since 1995. Founded by Joseph Baier and Christine Mroz, MD, it was built on the concept of having a single place for the care and treatment of the breast, including counseling, mammography and imaging.

 

"It recognizes the unique delivery of breast care that surgeons can provide," said Mroz.

 

With more than 25 years experience as a surgeon and mammographer, Mroz has worked to make breast care a specialty. It is one of the only parts of the body without a designated specialty. At Mroz-Baier, patients are managed by surgeons who are certified to read mammography, ultrasound and other imaging tools. With that, they are able to keep women from having to ping-pong from clinic to clinic.

 

They have about 7,400 office visits each year and 300 new cancer patients.

 

"We find 8 percent of cases are a missed cancer," explained Baier.

 

Furthering the knowledge of surgeons with breast health is a high priority for the center, which is why they are under contract with the Mayo Clinic to train breast fellows. This focuses on training surgeons to read mammograms and the array of imaging tools available to detect breast abnormalities and cancer.

 

The fellowship, along with the accreditation, said Baier, "is a major step in the right direction of making the treatment of breast disease a specialty. It's recognition of more than 20 years of effort to get there."

 

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 center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement.

 

Receiving care at an NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to:

"It recognizes our hard work and achievement," echoes Roy Oswaks, MD.

 

The Mroz-Baier Breast Care Center is the only clinic in a six-state area with this accreditation.