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Validating quality breast care: three new validation programs for 2007.

Kaufman CS

Department of Surgery, Bellingham Breast Center, University of Washington, 2940 Squalicum Pkwy, Bellingham, WA 90225, USA. breastcare@aol.com

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in treatment and decreases in mortality, high-quality breast care is distributed unevenly across the country. Efforts to measure and monitor the quality of breast care have been initiated for breast centers and breast surgeons. METHODS: The current efforts to define measures of breast care quality were examined. Each program was defined by their quality indicators, ease of use, and potential problems. RESULTS: Three new innovative programs were identified: (1) the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers uses an on-site survey of the structural components of breast center care to offer breast center accreditation; (2) the National Quality Measures for Breast Care (National Consortium of Breast Centers, Inc, Warsaw, IN) uses a confidential online questionnaire of process indicators to offer quality breast center certification; and (3) the American Society of Breast Surgeons program uses a confidential online questionnaire to validate breast surgeon quality. CONCLUSIONS: Three new programs to validate quality breast care are available in 2007. One or more of these programs likely will be used to validate increased payments for quality care. Breast centers and breast surgeons are advised to consider participation in these programs.

Published 10 September 2007 in Am J Surg, 194(4): 515-7.
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