NAPBC
The NAPBC looks at the structural elements of the breast center program. Many of these elements can be demonstrated by filling out a SAR (survey application request) on line prior to the on-site survey. They look at the existence of leadership, of treatment guidelines, of a tumor registry/database, of the spectrum of abilities to treat patients from every discipline, of the existence of an interdisciplinary conference, of outreach and education programs. These comprise the structure of the breast center, specifically asking whether there is the presence of these items of care. There is also a section on quality, which asks whether you participate in quality programs or asks you to provide two quality studies. Finally they ask answers to several care parameters such as portion of cancers treated with breast conservation, and answers to the three NQF questions of timeliness of care regarding radiation, chemotherapy and endocrine therapy.
NQMBC™
The NQMBC™ looks at the level of care provided in the multitude of specific areas that breast centers provide. Each center is asked to examine their own data over a period of time and answer over 30 questions regarding the specifics of the care they provide. Drill down questions, related to the process of care, are asked for different periods of time. Each answer submitted can be compared to other breast centers like yours or compared to all centers participating in this program. These questions relate to the actual care provided from appointment scheduling, to needle biopsy, to surgical treatment to pathology results, to use of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or endocrine therapy to reconstruction side effects. Each question identifies a specific point of care where a quality question can be asked. The NQMBC™ looks at the quality of care ACTUALLY being given, rather than the OPPORTUNITY of care available based on the structure of the program.
