Breast Care Center re-accredited through Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA)

October 2008

Sharon Regional's Breast Care Center recently was re-accredited for mammography services through the Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA). The act is a federal law that insures every mammography facility meets comprehensive quality standards that apply to the mammogram technologist, the radiologist who studies and interprets the mammograms, and the medical physicist who tests the mammography equipment.

To work in mammography, all of these professionals must have special training and education. In addition, because technology is always improving, this team of specialists must stay current with any changes through ongoing education. MQSA also insures that mammography equipment is tested regularly and maintained to operate properly.

For mammography, Sharon Regional’s Breast Care Center, located in the Women’s Pavilion of the Diagnostic and Imaging Center, 2435 Garden Way, Hermitage, uses only digital imaging, which is far superior to film, especially in detecting small, early cancers in dense breasts. Because the equipment is very expensive, not all facilities in the region provide digital mammography.

Mammograms in the Breast Center are read by the following radiologists who are also breast imaging specialists: Drs. Frederick Borts, Farhad Contractor, Nilima Dash, Bibianna Klepchick, Jeffrey Mueller, William Poller, and Betty Shindel.

The Breast Care Center is dedicated to meeting the physical and emotional needs of women throughout the mammography screening, diagnosis, surgical intervention, and treatment process.

For more information on mammography, breast cancer or any breast health concerns, please contact Cynthia Mastrian, RN, breast care nurse, at 724-983-7394 or e-mail [email protected]