Carol Milgard Breast Center Celebrates Ten Years of Excellence

Since 2009, Carol Milgard Breast Center (CMBC) has led the way in improving access to top-quality breast care services in Pierce County. This year, the organization celebrates a decade of delivering compassionate care to women across the South Sound. The CMBC’s visionary leadership and commitment to collaboration have allowed it to deliver expert care to over 354,000 patients across Pierce County. In the last 10 years, the center has performed over 547,000 exams and procedures and over 463,00 patient visits, as well as served more than 1,000 patients at community screening events.

Reflecting on the organization’s tremendous accomplishments over the last 10 years, Executive Director  Leanne Noren remarks, “Since opening our doors in 2009, the Carol Milgard Breast Center has aimed to provide our patients with high quality, patient-centered care in which every patient is treated with great compassion, respect and dignity. Thank you to our owners CHI Franciscan and MultiCare as well as our managing partner TRA Medical Imaging for their support and leadership over the past decade. We are also thankful for the many community partners, donors, volunteers, physicians and staff who have helped us over the years.”

Since its founding, CMBC has taken an innovative approach to addressing concerns facing breast cancer patients. The first breast imaging center of its kind in Pierce County, the organization was born of a collaboration between three leading healthcare providers: CHI Franciscan Health, MultiCare Health System and TRA Medical Imaging. The providers joined together to address a critical community need: shortening wait times for diagnosis results from breast exams, which at the time could take up to six weeks. By coming together around a shared mission and partnering with top medical experts, the organization has been able to streamline breast care and is typically able to complete mammogram results in 24 hours or less. At their comprehensive center, women receive mammography, biopsy and diagnostic services in a caring and compassionate setting.And its accomplishments are many.

The Carol Milgard Breast Center was made possible due to a generous grant from the Gary E. Milgard Family Foundation. Named to honor the spirit of Carol Milgard, a long-time Tacoma resident and 30-year breast cancer survivor, the center embodies her tireless commitment to philanthropy and community service. Committed to making top-notch care available to all women, regardless of their ability to pay, the organization helps connect eligible patients to financial aid programs. Thanks to the support of donors, CMBC has been able to provide patients with over $1.1 million dollars in financial assistance.

Since opening its doors on February 23, 2009, CMBC has led the way in improving outstanding access to breast care services. In the center’s first year in operation, it served just shy of 30,000 patients. By 2010, it was recognized as one of the top one percent of breast imaging centers in the nation.

CMBC has pioneered technologies and innovative solutions to patient access in Pierce County. CMBC was the first organization to bring a 3D mammogram to Tacoma and health organizations across the nation have recognized its excellence. Among them is the American College of Radiology, which has awarded the non-profit the prestigious designation Breast Imaging Center of Excellence. Over the past decade, they have also maintained a 95 percentile overall patient satisfaction rating compared to other breast centers nationwide.

At every step of the way, CMBC aims to provide the highest quality care to patients while ensuring their comfort. CMBC provides patients with a respectful, safe and soothing atmosphere. An onsite chaplain and ongoing support groups allow the center to attend to patients’ spiritual and emotional needs. And strategic partnerships with groups such as the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department and FaithHealth in Action have allowed the organization to expand outreach efforts and bridge gaps in care for high-risk groups in Pierce County.

The Carol Milgard Breast Center is located at 4525 South 19th Street in Tacoma. More information on how to support their mission or access their services can be found at their website. You can also give them a call at 253-759-2622.