The Bellevue Hospital’s mammography program is accreditated as the result of a survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

“We are very pleased with the results of the inspection,” Patty Semer, vice president of ancillary services, says.  “And believe that our rating and accreditation reflects the high quality and professionalism of our mammography staff and services.”

 The ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists with programs for focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of it practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in their field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their finding to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.         

The Bellevue Hospital’s mammography department is also accredited through the FDA and the Mammography Quality Standards Act.

The Bellevue Hospital offers a number of services for patients in our Breast Care Program.

  The Bellevue Hospital's mammography program is accredited by the American College of Radiology, the FDA and the Mammography Quality Standards Act. 

  Y R2Checker - For additional information See R2Checker

The Bellevue Hospital offer R2 Image Checker technology.  It's the first FDA approved, computer-aided detection system for screening mammography.

The R2 Checker is a kind of spell checker for medical images.  It digitizes the mammogram, scans it for abnormalities and places a marker on anything it finds -- even if it's barely visible to the human eye.   

   Y Our Focus is Life:

One out of every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. That’s a very real fact from the American Cancer Society.

However, it is also a fact that 90% of those women diagnosed with breast cancer will survive that cancer if it is detected and treated before it has spread beyond the breast.

Helping to make early breast cancer detection and treatment more readily available on a local level, The Bellevue Hospital has recently initiated a Breast Care Program, using the theme, “Our Focus is Life.”

In addition to the main goal of early detection, other goals of the program include:

     *reducing the wait time and number of visits between test results and diagnosis;

     *discussing care and treatment choices with the patient on a more personalized level;

     *helping the patient receive ongoing support through treatment, education, and counseling;

     *and using the latest state-of-the-art equipment for detection and treatment -

 all conveniently close to home.

            Y If a patient receives an abnormal mammogram reading, or is referred by their family physician,  the patient will follow a “breast care program” which may include a diagnostic mammogram and/or ultrasound.

            Y A biopsy may be recommended. The type of biopsy will be determined on an individual basis. Types of biopsies include stereotactic, needle biopsy, or excision.

            Y If the advanced stereotactic breast biopsy procedure or the ultrasound needle biopsy procedure is ordered, the patient will be taken through an out-patient procedure that usually lasts one hour.

           Y The biopsy may also include the use of the Sentinal Node biopsy procedure to help determine the extent of the treatment needed.

            Y If further treatment is necessary, all options will be discussed with the patient and a care plan will be developed.

            Y During each step of the process, the patient is informed and surrounded by caring professionals, including family physicians, radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, oncologists, nurses, counselors, and others.