Press Date: 10/23/2009

COLUMBUS, Ohio - Grant Medical Center has achieved a three-year full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), administered by the American College of Surgeons. Grant is just one of two hospitals in Columbus to receive this accreditation. Grant's sister hospital, Riverside Methodist Hospital, also holds this accreditation.

Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. During the survey process, the center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease. The standards include proficiency in the areas of: center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.

Receiving care at a NAPBC - accredited center ensures that a patient will have access to:

• Comprehensive care, including a full range of state-of-the-art services
• A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
• Quality breast care close to home
  

About Cancer Services at Grant Medical Center
Grant Medical Center's cancer team offers patients a comprehensive array of diagnostic, treatment, education and support services to patients throughout central Ohio. The team specializes in breast, lung, melanoma and colorectal cancers and compassionate care and participates in approximately 100 clinical research trials.

NAPBC
The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with disease of the breast. This mission is pursued through standard-setting, scientific validation, and patient and professional education. Its board membership includes professionals from 15 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.

Grant Medical Center
Grant Medical Center is a member of OhioHealth, a nationally recognized, not-for-profit healthcare organization named by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" in 2007, 2008 and 2009. Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is a family of 18 hospitals, 23 health and surgery centers, home-health providers, medical equipment, and health service suppliers throughout a 40-county area. OhioHealth hospitals in central Ohio are Riverside Methodist Hospital, Grant Medical Center, Doctors Hospital, Grady Memorial Hospital, and Dublin Methodist Hospital. For more information, please visit www.OhioHealth.com.

-30-