Sutter Health Breast Cancer Project

The Sutter Health Breast Cancer Project is a multi-year effort that has emerged as a systemwide model for clinical integration using evidence-based medicine (rather than opinion-driven practice) as a yardstick.

The goals of the project have been two-fold:

• Detect breast cancer early, at its most treatable and curable stage
• Support all affiliates in providing the optimal care in areas such as mammography screening and using the least invasive methods for diagnosis and treatment.

The goals for the Breast Health Project encourage physicians to:

• Remind patients of the success of early detection through screening mammography and encourage screening mammography
• Use needle biopsy to detect cancer, in cases where it is more appropriate than surgical biopsy
• Follow the treatment regimens that allow surgical conservation of the breast in cases where that is appropriate
• Use radiation therapy when surgical conservation of the breast is chosen

It's Working!

The results show a 25 percent increase in the number of patients diagnosed at Stage 0, when the cancer is most curable, for the time period from 1996 to 2000.

The use of needle biopsy techniques to diagnose cancer has risen from 35 percent to 55 percent, exceeding the project goals.

According to Debbi Dix, manager of Sutter Roseville Medical Center's cancer program, the systemwide approach to gathering data has provided Sutter Roseville and other facilities with information that would have otherwise been nearly impossible to obtain.

"It's difficult as one center alone to evaluate outcomes data," says Joan Mangelkoch, administrative director of the Sutter Cancer Center in Sacramento, "but when we get a number of centers together and have a collection of data, the comparisons are statistically stronger and more meaningful."

According to Sheila Littrell, director of Mills-Peninsula's cancer program, the challenge is to use the data to bring together all necessary players who have a part in patient care. "The focus on breast health has inspired us to look at all aspects of breast cancer care, including support groups, quality of life issues and more," says Littrell. "Weaving all these into the fabric of our program - and involving the patient all along the way - will truly be comprehensive disease management."

Centered on Patient Needs

"This is care centered around patient needs, not a particular facility," explains Gordon Hunt, M.D., Sutter Health's senior vice president for clinical integration and Chief Medical Officer. "Because it has application for patients seen in both doctors' offices and hospitals, it unifies outpatient and inpatient care for the good of the patient," he adds.

Sutter has also applied this model of data collection and evidentiary review to other common diseases, including congestive heart failure, and to pregnancy related care, particularly for first-time mothers.

Back to main Breast Cancer page