UF&Shands Park Avenue Imaging Center receives excellence accreditation

The Park Avenue Imaging Center, a diagnostic facility of the UF&Shands Breast Center, has received national accreditation from the American College of Radiology for stereotactic breast biopsies. This recognition, along with its existing accreditation for mammography and breast ultrasound, makes it the first ACR Breast Imaging Center of Excellence in north central Florida.

Stereotactic breast biopsy is a minimally invasive procedure used to confirm whether an abnormal breast mass is cancerous. This outpatient procedure uses highly detailed computer-generated imagery to enable physicians to precisely target and remove small samples of abnormal breast tissue through a slender needle. A pathologist analyzes the sample to determine whether it is harmless or requires more extensive treatment.

“We’re excited about this accreditation and that we’re on par with what the American College of Radiology has established as the standard of care for breast imaging facilities,” said Julia Marshall, M.D., a clinical assistant professor of radiology in the University of Florida College of Medicine. “It’s nice to have this stamp of approval.”

In addition to stereotactic breast biopsy, Park Avenue Imaging Center offers mammograms, ultrasound-guided breast biopsies and breast ultrasounds. It is also ACR accredited in mammography and breast ultrasound.

The UF&Shands Breast Center is a nationally recognized center of excellence in breast cancer. It provides a multidisciplinary patient care team including radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, medical oncologists, plastic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, rehabilitation specialists and social workers, who deliver the best practices currently existing in breast care.

“This ACR accreditation is something of which our multidisciplinary breast cancer program is very proud,” said Stephen Grobmyer, M.D., a UF College of Medicine associate professor of surgery and director of the UF&Shands Breast Center. “It compliments very nicely with our recent National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers accreditation. Both are reflective of a full programmatic and institutional commitment to provide the highest quality of care with regard to early detection and treatment of breast cancer.”

According to the ACR, Park Avenue Imaging Center underwent a peer-reviewed, educationally focused evaluation process to make sure the highest levels of image quality and safety were provided. The facility met accreditation requirements for equipment, continuing education and personnel. Clinical and phantom image quality review as well as radiation dose assessments are critical elements of accreditation.