September 30, 2009
Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard Receives ACR Accreditation for Full-Field Digital Mammography
(Sept. 30, 2009, WEBSTER) - Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard has been awarded a three-year term of accreditation in Digital Mammography, as the result of a recent survey by the American College of Radiology (ACR).
“The mammography and diagnostic imaging staff at the Webster campus works so hard each day to make sure our patients are receiving the best care with the safest and most advanced equipment,” said Jackie Wilkinson, Breast Imaging Supervisor at Harrington. “We are excited to provide such a high level of mammography services to the community.”
The accreditation comes in perfect time to help celebrate National Breast Cancer Awareness Month during October. Digital Mammography is considered the gold standard of breast health testing, offering advanced technology and sharper images for routine screenings or diagnostic studies. Harrington’s Southbridge and Webster campuses offer Digital Mammography with Soft Touch Mammo Pads – a cushioned pad applied to the compression plate before a mammogram, significantly decreasing patient discomfort while retaining clear image quality.
“Our goal is to continue to provide advanced patient care services locally,” said Ed Moore, Harrington Hospital President and CEO. “Becoming ACR accredited in digital mammography is a great accomplishment, and one more way we are helping our patients stay local for quality services and treatment.”
Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard received the digital mammography upgrade in June 2009, and went through a rigorous inspection process by the Department of Public Health in June. The Webster campus expects a second visit from DPH in approximately three months.
The ACR, headquartered in Reston, Va., awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which provides the practice with a comprehensive report.
Harrington radiology services are provided through a partnership with Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
HARRINGTON HOSPITAL is a comprehensive regional healthcare provider serving the needs of Southern Worcester County and Northern Connecticut through:
- our 113-bed acute-care hospital in Southbridge that provides medical and surgical inpatient care, 24-hour emergency services, psychiatric care, pediatrics and obstetrical care, intensive/coronary care and comprehensive outpatient services,
- satellite medical facilities across South Central Massachusetts, housing primary care and specialty doctors, diagnostic imaging, pulmonary and sleep clinic, cardiopulmonary, laboratory services and specialties such as physical therapy and wound care,
- a free-standing cancer treatment center in Southbridge that allows patients to receive advanced, local oncological care, including Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and Image-Guided Radiation Therapy, chemotherapy, counseling, pain management and reconstructive surgery.