There are several factors to consider when choosing a hospital, including:
- Type of hospital
- The approach to care
- Location
- Cost for services
Type of hospital
Many types of hospitals offer treatment for breast cancer, and each can give excellent care. National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Cancer Centers are hospitals and medical centers noted for the high quality of science and research in cancer care. Academic cancer centers are affiliated with medical schools and tend to place a high priority on research. And, there are non-academic centers that are not directly affiliated with a medical school. These medical centers may do research, but their main focus is patient care.
Hospital volume
There are few studies looking at the link between the number of people treated at a hospital (hospital volume) and the quality of breast cancer care. Some studies have shown that the more breast cancer cases treated at a hospital each year, the better the care [3-6]. One study followed nearly 48,000 women who had breast cancer surgery [4]. Women treated at hospitals where more than 150 breast cancer surgeries were performed each year had a higher five-year survival rate than women who were treated at hospitals that did fewer surgeries per year [4]. However, a smaller study found no difference in survival among women treated at high volume hospitals and those treated at low volume hospitals [7].
Multidisciplinary teams
Many hospitals are starting to diagnose and treat breast cancer using multidisciplinary teams. In a team approach to care, all the health care providers involved in diagnosis and treatment meet as a group and coordinate your care. This approach may provide better care by increasing communication between your providers and decreasing the time between diagnosis and treatment. At this time, however, there is not enough information on the benefits of a multidisciplinary team approach to recommend it over the standard care currently received at most hospitals.
Other factors to consider
The type of hospital you choose depends on many factors. Besides quality care, transportation issues and insurance coverage can also play a role in your decision. NCI-designated Cancer Centers and academic centers tend to be located in larger cities. This can make travel to and from a facility difficult if you live in a rural area. Another factor is cost. Not all physicians and facilities are covered by all health insurance plans. With the high cost of breast cancer care, you may choose to seek care from the providers and facilities covered under your health insurance plans. Finally, if you have already chosen a physician, the choice of hospitals will be limited to those where he/she has practicing privileges.
Updated 02/01/10
