MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial Awarded Full Accreditation

The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast. This mission is pursued through standard-setting, scientific validation, and patient and professional education. Its board membership includes professionals from 15 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimated that there would be 192,370 patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in the United States in 20091. In addition, hundreds of thousands of women who will deal with benign breast disease this year will require medical evaluation for treatment options.

Receiving care at a NAPBC-accredited center ensures that a patient will 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

And, most importantly,

•Quality breast care close to home.

For more information about the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, visit their Web site at www.accreditedbreastcenters.org.

About the MemorialCare Breast Center: The MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial's Todd Cancer Institute is one of the 10 best breast centers in America, according to Self magazine. The Center offers state-of-the-art technology, on-site multidisciplinary experts, planning conferences for treatments, support groups, second opinion services and clinical research.

About Long Beach Memorial: Long Beach Memorial Medical Center is part of the MemorialCare Health System, a nationally recognized not-for-profit integrated delivery system with top ratings for quality and safety. Long Beach Memorial has been providing compassionate care with the latest state-of-the-art technology for more than 100 years and is the region's first choice for comprehensive care in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Centers of excellence include the MemorialCare Heart and Vascular Institute, The Todd Cancer Institute, Memorial Rehabilitation and the Emergency Department and Trauma Center.

_________________________________________

1. American Cancer Society Cancer Facts & Figures 2009. Atlanta: American Cancer Society; 2009.