Samaritan Albany General Hospital’s (SAGH) diagnostic imaging department was recently designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The hospital operates diagnostic imaging services both at the hospital and at Samaritan Medical Diagnostics Center in North Albany.
“I am proud of our program and our staff,“ said Kimberly Christensen, director of diagnostic imaging at the Albany and Lebanon hospitals. “Being one of only three hospitals in the state of Oregon to have this designation is a great source of pride and truly reflects our commitment to quality for our patients.”
The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation certifies that the center’s breast imaging services – mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy – are fully accredited. The other two centers in Oregon which have this designation are Oregon Health & Science University in Portland and PMMC Leila J. Eisenstein Breast Center in Medford.
The ACR is a national organization, headquartered in Reston, Va., focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health services. It awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.