St. John’s Medical Center has been designated a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR), the only hospital in the region to have earned this distinction.

“I am extremely proud of the entire radiology department for earning this distinction,” said Michelle Kren, the administrative director of diagnostic imaging. “This is a remarkable achievement, as the nearest Breast Imaging Center of Excellence facility is 250 miles away. We are committed to ensuring the safety of our patients, offering convenience, and providing the best care possible to our community.”

To be named a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence, a site must earn accreditation in four areas: mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound (including ultrasound-guided breast biopsy), and breast MRI.

Board-certified physicians and medical physicists then conduct peer-review evaluations in each breast imaging modality. They determined that St. John’s Medical Center has achieved high practice standards in image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs.