February 1, 2010

Renfrew hospital’s mammography service meets the highest national standards

Renfrew Victoria Hospital’s mammography team has surpassed the standards of the Canadian Association of Radiologists and been awarded a three-year accreditation, which is the highest designation available.

The mammography accreditation program is a national professional assessment administered by the Canadian Association of Radiologists to ensure a high standard of delivery of mammographic services, including the Ontario Breast Screening Program.

As a participant in the accreditation process, the RVH mammography team and equipment undergo a rigorous examination by outside professionals. The accreditation process assesses the licensing and continuing education of the radiologists, physicist and technologists who deliver the RVH mammography service. The quality of the mammographic images is also scrutinized by a special national panel to ensure that the facility is operating within safe exposure limits.

“Mammography accreditation is a very thorough process, and the achievement of three-year accreditation is a testament to the professionalism and dedication of our diagnostic imaging team,” comments RVH CEO Randy Penney. “The patients who receive our mammography services can be assured without a doubt that they are receiving care that is second to none on a national basis.”

“Special thanks to all of the mammography technologists at RVH for working diligently to maintain a high level of compliance with the accreditation standards, the secretarial staff who helped compile the application and provide ongoing support to the department, and Dr. Sherief Massoud who oversees the program,” Penney concludes.

Between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009, the RVH team performed a total of 3,147 mammography examinations, including 1,674 under the Ontario Breast Screening Program. The diagnostic imaging department has maintained an accredited mammography facility at Renfrew Victoria Hospital (RVH) since 1996.

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(For more information contact Randy Penney, CEO,
Renfrew Victoria Hospital, 613-432-4851, ext. 260.)