NORWAY — Stephens Memorial Hospital 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.

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 guidelines 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 they can use for continuous practice improvement.

Stephens Memorial Hospital is a Leapfrog 2013 Top Rural Hospital and is a member of MaineHealth. Visit Western Maine Health on the Internet at www.wmhcc.org; or follow it at www.Facebook.com/StephensMemorialME.