Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center Designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence

Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The Breast Imaging Center of Excellence status recognizes Kaiser Permanente’s achievements in mammography, stereotactic guided breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

“This designation reinforces our commitment to providing excellent and compassionate breast care to Solano County,” said Dr. Gillian Kuehner, director of Breast Care Services for Kaiser Permanente’s Napa Solano area. “We are honored by the designation and will continue to provide the highest level of breast care.”

Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center received the designation after peer-review evaluations, conducted in each breast imaging modality by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field, determined that the hospital achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs.

Kaiser Permanente’s Same Day Service for Mammography is just one of the ways they provide advanced care to patients. “If a patient is called back from her screening mammogram and needs further evaluation, she can have everything done with just one trip,” said Dr. Marzban Rad, sub-chief for Breast Imaging for Kaiser Permanente in the Napa Solano area. “This helps alleviate any anxiety for the patient and streamlines any necessary next steps.”

A multi-disciplinary approach to breast cancer treatment is also key. “We have a medical conference every Tuesday with breast imaging radiologists, breast surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and nurses,  where we discuss each case individually to create the most effective treatment plan for our patients,” added Dr. Rad. “We really focus on providing guidance, support, and personalized treatment for every patient.”

Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center is also part of a nationally recognized clinical trials program, giving patients access to the latest clinical trials.

The ACR is a national professional organization serving more than 36,000 diagnostic/interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists, nuclear medicine physicians, and medical physicists with programs focusing on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.

Kaiser Permanente’s Vallejo Medical Center received the Breast Imaging Center of Excellence designation by the ACR on October 28, 2013.