North York General: Home to Canada’s only U.S. accredited breast cancer program

Breast Cancer team

North York General Hospital's (NYGH) breast cancer care program recently received full accreditation, for the second time, from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the American College of Surgeons. In 2016, NYGH became the first hospital in Canada to receive the NAPBC designation and remains the only accredited breast cancer program in the country.

“North York General’s breast cancer program continues to be recognized nationally and by our North American counterparts as a result of our deep commitment to patient care and continuous drive for excellence,” says Manuel Giraldo, NYGH Lab Manager and team lead for the NAPBC application. “All of the programs connected to supporting breast cancer patients at NYGH were incredibly proud to demonstrate how we deliver state-of-the-art care during the onsite visit from the American College of Surgeons.”   

Providing the highest level of care

Achieving the accreditation involves a vigorous process with extremely high standards. In order to fulfill the accreditation requirements a hospital must demonstrate that they provide the highest level of breast cancer care. As a community academic teaching hospital, we are also able to offer patients access to clinical trials and the opportunity to be a part of research that contributes to improving cancer care everywhere.    

At NYGH, patients and families receive the full spectrum of cancer care from prevention to survivorship and end-of-life care. The breast cancer program’s patient navigator ensures patients and families have a dedicated contact and resource, providing emotional support, coordination of care, and education every step of the way.

The Baruch/Weisz Cancer Centre which includes the Anne Tanenbaum Chemotherapy Clinic, and the Karen, Heather and Lynn Steinberg Breast Centre that houses the BMO Breast Diagnostic Clinic, provides modern, healing spaces for patients to receive high-quality care.

NAPBC standards

NYGH’s breast cancer program meets the NAPBC standard domains:

  • A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best care and treatment options available
  • Access to breast-specific information, education, and support
  • Breast center data collection on quality indicators for subspecialties involved in breast cancer diagnosis and treatment
  • Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
  • Information about participation in clinical trials and new treatment options 

“When patients are referred to the NYGH breast cancer program or choose this hospital for their care they will experience a level of compassion that makes them feel at home and at the same time have the confidence that they are being cared for by highly-trained cancer experts who are working hand-in-hand to provide the best testing, treatment available in oncology, surgery, diagnostic imaging, nursing, genetics and lab medicine,” says Dr. Nancy Down, Medical Director of the Breast Integrated Care Collaborative and Division Head of General Surgery, NYGH.

Click here to learn more about the NYGH breast cancer program.

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