Center of Excellence

Kootenai Outpatient Imaging is designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiology (ACR). Only 300 facilities in the United States have earned this designation.

This status recognizes breast imaging centers that have not only met the requirements of the ACR's Mammography Accreditation Program but also earned accreditation in each of its other voluntary imaging accreditation programs and modules as well.

To earn the Center of Excellence designation, Kootenai Outpatient Imaging's breast imaging services have been fully accredited in mammography, stereotactic breast biopsy, breast ultrasound and ultrasound-guided breast biopsy.

"This accreditation shows that the work performed at Kootenai Outpatient Imaging goes well beyond seeing patients and reporting results," said Jen Neely, manager of Kootenai Outpatient Imaging. "Our goal is to provide the best service available so our physicians and patients have the best information to base their healthcare decisions on. To be the only group in the inland northwest to receive this accreditation, speaks volumes."

In addition to the Center of Excellence designation, Kootenai Outpatient Imaging was also commended in a number of peer-review evaluations conducted by physicians and medical physicists. The evaluations noted high practice standards for image quality, personnel qualifications, facility equipment, quality control procedures and quality assurance programs.

In 2007, Kootenai Outpatient Imaging began offering digital mammography; known for better images, especially in the area of cancer detection. Last year, Kootenai Outpatient Imaging provided more than 56,000 imaging procedures to patients, including 16,000 breast imaging procedures alone.