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Can We Measure the Quality of Breast Surgical Care?

  • American Society of Breast Surgeons
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Many studies have demonstrated gaps in healthcare quality for all medical and surgical specialties including breast surgical care. How to optimally measure and improve quality has generated debate at the local, state, and national level. Attempts to judge medical performance by private companies using non-risk-adjusted administrative databases may not be accurate and may unfairly penalize surgical care. An overview of concepts to measure and improve quality of breast cancer care is presented with specific examples relevant to breast surgeons. Breast surgeons and their professional organizations need to take ownership of quality measure programs because others will surely do so if we do not. Participation in one or more of these programs is beneficial because peer performance comparison allows identification of potential areas for individual or institutional improvement and demonstrates the commitment of breast surgeons to quality improvement. This commitment may gain even greater importance if trends continue toward performance-based physician payment, patient steerage, licensure, and board certification.

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Acknowledgment

The authors thank Brooke De Maiffe and Kara Kallies for their assistance in manuscript preparation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bellingham Regional Breast Center, Bellingham, WA, USA

    Cary S. Kaufman MD, FACS

  2. Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Cary S. Kaufman MD, FACS

  3. The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, Chicago, IL, USA

    Cary S. Kaufman MD, FACS

  4. Norma J. Vinger Center for Breast Care, Gundersen Lutheran Health System, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Jeffrey Landercasper MD, FACS

  5. Department of Surgery, Gundersen Lutheran Health System, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Jeffrey Landercasper MD, FACS

  6. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA

    Jeffrey Landercasper MD, FACS

  7. Patient Safety and Quality Committee of the American Society of Breast Surgeons, Columbia, MD, USA

    Jeffrey Landercasper MD, FACS

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  1. Cary S. Kaufman MD, FACS
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  2. Jeffrey Landercasper MD, FACS
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Correspondence to Jeffrey Landercasper MD, FACS.

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Kaufman, C.S., Landercasper, J. Can We Measure the Quality of Breast Surgical Care?. Ann Surg Oncol 18, 3053–3060 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1998-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-011-1998-3

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