Women’s Breast Health Care

“Alliance helped us create a plan, executed the plan in step with us on an extremely aggressive schedule, and together we made it happen.”

– James Fanale, MD
Senior Vice President of System Development

The Need for a Comprehensive Solution

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer incidence among women in the United States is one in eight. However, when breast cancer is diagnosed early, the five-year survival rate is 90 percent.

Unfortunately, women’s breast health care is typically delivered across a variety of settings, leaving it up to the patient to choose which path is best, often with limited guidance from a focused program. There is a great need for comprehensive programs that consider patients’ physical and emotional needs from diagnosis through therapy, all in one community-based setting.

Jordan Hospital’s world-class center offers a shining example of what such a program looks like, and the case study below highlights how Alliance worked closely with the hospital’s executive team and medical staff to make it happen.

The Situation

The women’s breast health care program at Jordan Hospital employs a well-respected, well-known team of physicians and technologists. In addition, the hospital’s primary and secondary service areas are home to more than 35,000 females over 40 years old – the ideal demographic for breast care.

In spite of this scenario, Jordan Hospital’s program was steadily losing out to nearby competitors with advanced digital equipment. It quickly became apparent that, in this area, technology is the key to market share. However, due to the tough economic environment, expensive upgrades were not in the hospital’s budget.

The Solution

In June 2009, Jordan Hospital partnered with Alliance to launch a brand-new, state-of-the-art women’s breast health care center. Alliance worked closely with the hospital’s executive team and medical staff leadership to plan and develop the facility. Among other responsibilities, Alliance selected, purchased and installed the right technology for the hospital’s market, with the goal of achieving the highest possible return on investment. Four months after the partnership began, the new women’s breast health care center opened its doors.

Jordan Hospital’s comprehensive program offers women easy access to the complete spectrum of clinical and support services, including screening, diagnosis, treatment, counseling and education. The multidisciplinary team of physicians and clinicians includes a specially trained nurse (called a “breast health navigator”) who helps patients coordinate all aspects of their care.

In addition to using the most sophisticated technology available, a hallmark of the center is the ability to see women within 24 to 48 hours after detecting a lump or an abnormal mammogram report. Patients will receive their diagnosis within five business days of detection.

Alliance provides the Jordan Hospital Breast Center with management, staffing, marketing, overall operations and implementation of the care path.

The Results

By the second full month of operations, the center had already achieved its volume goals. And volumes for all modalities are currently meeting or exceeding budget. In 2010, Jordan Hospital completed 9,300 screening mammograms, 3,400 diagnostic mammograms and 1,500 breast ultrasounds.

Physicians and patients warmly received the clinical pathway enhancements. In addition, the hospital staff and Alliance’s center manager, breast health navigator and account executive work together exceptionally well – ensuring the continued success of this partnership.

Most recently, the Breast Center was granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. The Jordan Hospital Breast Center received a perfect score and was compliant with all 27 standards, including center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education and quality improvement.

The Breast Center is also accredited by the American College of Radiology. In the near future, Alliance will implement risk assessment and breast density evaluation at the front end of the care path. These additions are expected to capture more advanced imaging business for the Breast Center and help to discover cancer sooner.

Key Statistics

Modalities:

• Digital mammography – Hologic Selenia Base and Selenia S, including CAD
• Breast MRI – Aurora 128
• Breast ultrasound – Siemens Acuson 2000 breast-specific system
• Bone densitometry – Hologic Discovery C
• Stereotactic biopsy – Hologic Multicare Platinum Biopsy Table
• Stereotactic biopsy device – Mammotome ST Biopsy Device (for Stereo)
• MRI/ultrasound biopsy device – Suros Sapphire Vacuum Biopsy Device

Staffing:

• 1 full-time center manager
• 1 full-time breast health navigator
• 3 full-time receptionists/schedulers
• 11 on-call hospital-employed technologists
• 1 part-time account executive (marketing support)

Space:
5,500 square feet

Accreditations:
Jordan Hospital received a full accreditation designation from the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. The Breast Center is also accredited by the American College of Radiology in mammography.

Downstream Benefit

Jordan Hospital has experienced significant gains in other parts of its business as a result of the new Breast Center:

• Stereotactic breast biopsies increased 81 percent, from 89 in 2009 to 161 in 2010.
• Ultrasound-guided breast biopsies grew 53 percent, from 244 in 2009 to 372 in 2010.
• Breast surgeries increased 51 percent, from 168 in 2009 to 254 in 2010.
• Radiation oncology breast consults at Jordan Hospital’s Cancer Center grew 96 percent, from 71 in 2009 to 139 in 2010. More than 90 percent of the additional consults were first seen at the Jordan Hospital Breast Center.
• Radiation oncology breast treatment starts at Jordan Hospital’s Cancer Center grew 26 percent, from 70 in 2009 to 88 in 2010.