title: The requirements of a specialist Breast Centre.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recognition of the advances and evidence based changes in clinical practice that have occurred in recent years and taking into account the knowledge and experience accumulated through the voluntary breast unit certification programme, Eusoma has produced this up-dated and revised guidelines on the requirements of a Specialist Breast Centre (BC).
  
  
  METHODS
  The content of these guidelines is based on evidence from the recent relevant peer reviewed literature and the consensus of a multidisciplinary team of European experts. The guidelines define the requirements for each breast service and for the specialists who work in specialist Breast Centres.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The guidelines identify the minimum requirements needed to set up a BC, these being an integrated Breast Centre, dealing with a sufficient number of cases to allow effective working and continuing expertise, dedicated specialists working with a multidisciplinary approach, providing all services throughout the patients pathway and data collection and audit. It is essential that the BC also guarantees the continuity of care for patients with advanced (metastatic) disease offering treatments according to multidisciplinary competencies and a high quality palliative care service. The BC must ensure that comprehensive support and expertise may be needed, not only through the core BC team, but also ensure that all other medical and paramedical expertise that may be necessary depending on the individual case are freely available, referring the patient to the specific care provider depending on the problem.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Applying minimum requirements and quality indicators is essential to improve organisation, performance and outcome in breast care. Efficacy and compliance have to be constantly monitored to evaluate the quality of patient care and to allow appropriate corrective actions leading to improvements in patient care.
authors: Royal Marsden Hospital, London, UK. Electronic address: robinwilson@nhs.net.
authors: A R M
authors: AR
authors: Wilson
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Marotti
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Bianchi
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Biganzoli
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Claassen
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Decker
authors: A
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authors: Frigerio
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authors: Goldhirsch
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authors: EG
authors: Gustafsson
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authors: RE
authors: Mansel
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authors: Orecchia
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Ponti
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authors: P
authors: Poortmans
authors: P
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authors: Regitnig
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Rosselli Del Turco
authors: E J Th
authors: EJ
authors: Rutgers
authors: C
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authors: van Asperen
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authors: CA
authors: Wells
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Wengström
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Cataliotti
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003142:Communication; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000458:organization & administration; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations
keywords: Breast Centre; Breast cancer care; Breast specialist; Data collection audit; Eusoma; Multidisciplinary approach; Performance; Quality indicator; Quality of care