They are carefully scrutinizing procedures, diagnostic testing and patient outcomes. Payment for repetitious or unauthorized treatment is being routinely denied. In sync with the reform movement jostled about in Congress, healthcare consumers are increasingly demanding specialized, quality care which meets their time constraints in a cost efficient manner and includes them in the decision-making process. Site-specific centers that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of one particular disease enable medical institutions to meet the goals of the health care evolution while adding to the bottom line financially. A center that diagnoses and treats breast disease is an obvious example.
Breast cancer is the most commonly occurring female cancer.
Breast cancer requires the most diagnostic x-rays, the most diagnostic biopsies, the most chemotherapy treatments, the most radiation therapy treatments, and the most hormonal therapies of any cancer. It also requires the most physician visits. Obviously breast cancer is a very large revenue generating disease. The management of breast disease is very complex. Lines of care cross from the primary care physician to radiologist, surgeon, pathologist, oncologist, radiation oncologist, and reconstructive surgeon.