Center for Breast Health at Baptist for Women

         

The Center for Breast Health at Baptist for Women is now accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).

This accomplishment means:

• We are fully qualified to offer the full spectrum of interdisciplinary care to patients with breast disease.
• Our patients are afforded the most currently available forms of evaluation, treatment and follow-up care.
• We have passed a rigorous evaluation by independent clinical surveyors, who have awarded us their nationally recognized seal of approval.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women. The key to survival is early detection through monthly self exams and annual mammography.
 
However, a woman's fears about breast health procedures may determine whether or not she will have routine mammograms. The Center for Breast Health responds to these fears by offering an all-female staff in a private, more personal and comfortable setting. Plus, Baptist has eliminated the anxiety of waiting for results. With an on-site, dedicated radiologist, patients at the Center for Breast Health receive their results before they leave.*

The Center for Breast Health uses digital mammography equipment and the ImageChecker® System, the first FDA approved Computer Aided Detection (CAD) System for breast imaging. ImageChecker assists radiologists during their review of screening mammograms by identifying areas on the mammogram that contain features associated with cancer that may warrant a second review.

Additionally, to add to your comfort during your mammogram, the Breast Health Center uses Bella Blankets® Protective Coverlets on our mammography equipment. These coverlets are used to remove the chill and provide you with added protection in our sanitary environment. The single-use coverlets are FDA approved, hypoallergenic and latex-free.

Baptist Medical Center is the only hospital in Mississippi to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for Breast Cancer. This Baptist program underwent a rigorous on-site survey and demonstrated compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in disease-specific care. This certification includes Radiation Oncology, Outpatient Infusion, and the Baptist Breast Health Center.

The Center for Breast Health services include digital technology for the following:

• Screening mammography
• Low cost screening mammogram program :: Learn about this program
• Diagnostic mammography
• Stereotactic breast biopsy (requires surgical consult prior to scheduling)
• Breast Health Navigator consultation
• Lymphedema treatment program
• Mammosite™ radiation therapy
• Genetic education and testing
• Breast self-exam instruction by a registered nurse
• Facility accredited by The American College of Radiology and The Food and Drug Administration
• Mammogram performed by a registered radiological technologist with certification in advanced mammography
• Interpretation by a board certified radiologist
• Referral for follow-up services as indicated

The Center for Breast Health is located on the ground floor of Baptist for Women at Baptist Medical Center, 1225 North State Street, Jackson, MS. Hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Limited evening appointments are available upon request for screening mammograms. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 601-973-3180.
:: Click for a map and directions

*Radiologist must have prior films at the time of your appointment.

The Center for Breast Health Navigator

Adrienne Russell, RN, MSN, Baptist’s Breast Health Navigator, provides individualized guidance to all women coming into the Breast Health Center, whether it is for a screening mammogram or further treatment. Those recently diagnosed with breast diseases and breast cancer benefit from increased concern and education.

Adrienne is certified as a Breast Patient Navigator for both Imaging and Cancer by the National Consortium of Breast Centers. The certification recognizes professionals who advance beyond basic knowledge in a field of specialty.

Adrienne follows women throughout every aspect of treatment, helping to dispel fear, directing patients to financial and emotional support resources, and being a comfort to patients and their families. She provides education about benign and malignant breast diseases, treatments and side effects of treatment. She also assesses the educational, physical, psychological and social needs of the patient and family. She also can make appropriate referrals for further assessment when needed. As Baptist’s Breast Care Navigator, Adrienne is not only a friend to each patient, but also an advocate for patients and families at Baptist as well as in the community.

Contact the Breast Care Navigator by sending email to breastnavigator@mbhs.org.

Stereotactic Breast Biopsy
For patients requiring a biopsy to evaluate the possibility of breast cancer, a technique called minimally-invasive stereotactic breast biopsy may provide an answer without the need for surgery. This procedure, done only at the recommendation of a surgeon, involves placing a specialized biopsy needle in the suspicious area using x-ray guidance. The stereotactic procedure is less painful and less expensive than traditional surgical biopsy and the patient has a shorter recovery time with less scarring. A follow-up surgical biopsy may be necessary if there is a malignant, suspicious or conflicting finding obtained stereotactically. And, in some cases, physicians may recommend surgical biopsy initially.

In December 2009, the Center for Breast Health was awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Stereotactic Breast Biopsy as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., 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.

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

Sentinel Node Mapping
Intraoperative lymphatic mapping is another innovative diagnostic technique for breast cancer patients. This procedure checks for the presence of cancer of the lymph nodes by examining the sentinel node. If the sentinel node biopsy determines that there is no cancer, the patient may be spared the added stress of a larger operation. Sentinel node procedures have also been shown to leave the patient with fewer side effects and shorter recovery times.

Listen to our podcasts on Breast Cancer:

• Prevention, Signs & Symptoms
• Is This Lump Cancercous?
• After the Diagnosis: What's Next?
• Genetic Testing for Breast & Ovarian Cancer
• Breast Health: Getting an Inside Look, Part 1 (Preparing for your mammogram; how to reduce discomfort)
• Breast Health: Getting an Inside Look, Part 2 (Comprehensive overview of breast imaging including mammography, breast ultrasound, nuclear medicine, and breast MRI )
• Breast Health: Getting an Inside Look, Part 3 ( Predictive values of tests and what findings mean)