Administrative and Leadership Challenges in Building a New Era of Breast Centers

While the past two decades demonstrated the growth from imaging centers to comprehensive breast centers, sometimes in a one-stop setting, to remain viable, patient-focused and attractive to payors, the breast center of the future will need to integrate emerging technologies in an Advanced Technology Breast Center setting where surgeons and radiologists work synergistically in a side-by-side practice environment in collaboration with other breast specialists. While clinical excellence has been a fundamental component of breast center development, the economics in health care have created a demand for administrative and executive leadership to play a more vital role in championing breast center development. This approach promotes a structured, interdisciplinary panel model to ensure a patient and family centered, high technology, compassionate high touch, and culturally competent breast program. The most critical message of this article is that, before a team engages in recruiting staff, developing programs, and establishing collaborative partnerships, administrative and financial leadership within organizations must conduct an assessment of the strategic presence, prioritization, and placement of the breast center on the organizational radar screen.