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The Breast Health Center at Riverside Medical Center has been named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR), making it the first and only breast imaging ( mammography ) center in the region and one of only 19 facilities in Illinois to receive this designation.

“We are very proud to receive this designation,” said Kathy Curiel, Director of Radiology Services at Riverside. “It recognizes the quality of every aspect of the center and tells women that Riverside meets and greatly exceeds the national standards of finding breast cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages.”

This designation also signifies that the Riverside Breast Health Center meets the highest standards of the radiology profession. A center of excellence designation is awarded to breast imaging centers that have demonstrated excellence in breast imaging by achieving accreditation in mammography, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided biopsy, and stereotactic breast biopsy.

Riverside Medical Center voluntarily underwent the ACR’s rigorous review process and was successfully certified.

The Riverside Breast Health Center has been very successful at detecting and treating breast cancer and other high-risk breast disease, according to Curiel. Its comprehensive breast imaging program includes screening and diagnostic mammography, computer-aided detection (CAD), breast ultrasound, non-invasive outpatient breast biopsies, needle localizations and breast MRI with CAD and interventional breast procedures such as stereotactic and ultrasound breast biopsies.

In addition, Riverside offers many other amenities designed to provide patients and their families with a comfortable and supportive experience.

As one of the only Advanced Certified Breast Health Navigators in the area, Jane Schwark, RN, B.H.N., C.B.C.N. helps patients to have an understanding of what to expect throughout their care.

Schwark empathizes that in no way is cancer care easy to go through, but her hope is that she can make the process a little less scary.

Working by Schwark’s side is Pam Mullady RT, CBPN-C, Riverside Medical Center Team Leader, Registered Radiologic Technologist and recently Certified Breast Patient Navigator. She helps to make a patient’s breast health transition a smooth one.

“We personally guide each patient through a highly individualized care process,” Mullady said. “Our goal is to leave each patient with good health and good peace of mind.”

This past year, approximately 9,091 mammograms, 97 ultrasounds and 67 stereotactic guided breast biopsies were performed at the Riverside Breast Imaging Center of Excellence.

Source: Riverside Breast Health Center

Discuss more about Mammography in the Mammography user group.