GGH's Women’s Health Services Earns Stereotactic Breast Biopsy ACR Accreditation

Geneva General Hospital’s Women’s Health Services, has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in stereotactic breast biopsy as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR).

A breast biopsy is performed to remove cells — either surgically or through a less invasive procedure involving a hollow needle — from an area in the breast suspected to be cancerous. These cells are examined under a microscope to determine a diagnosis. In stereotactic breast biopsy, a special mammography machine helps guide the radiologist’s instruments to the site of an abnormal growth.

The ACR gold seal of accreditation represents the highest level of image quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting ACR Practice Parameters and Technical Standards after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Image quality, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report that can be used for continuous practice improvement.

“The staff in this department is very proud of this recognition. This acknowledgement of their clinical excellence is a tribute to their dedication to the patients of Finger Lakes Health” said Jeff Fultz, director of diagnostics.

The ACR, founded in 1924, is a professional medical society dedicated to serving patients and society by empowering radiology professionals to advance the practice, science and professions of radiological care. The College serves more than 37,000 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.

Finger Lakes Health offers comprehensive women's health services at both Geneva General Hospital and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital.

Women's Health Services in the Geneva office is specifically designed for women's health issues, including technology for testing through mammography, breast ultrasound, breast biopsies, and bone density scanning. State-of-the-art equipment includes a Hologic mammography unit and an ultrasound suite. Bone density scanning is performed with our DEXA scanner. Our Lorad Stereotactic table provides patients with more accurate images and comfortable prone positioning. To learn more please call (315) 787-4400.

Women's health services are also located at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital (mammography, breast ultrasound and bone density scanning) in the Diagnostic Imaging/Radiology Department on the ground floor, just off the main lobby. For information, call (315) 531-2544.

Services for both locations are scheduled through Central Scheduling, with a physician order, by calling (315) 531-2555.