WBMC's New Breast Center Leads to Questions
West Boca Medical Center recently announced its new Breast Center, which it says will “provide one location for all aspects of breast care including prevention, early disease detection, diagnosis and treatment of breast conditions.”
While we certainly appreciate any effort to provide better care, we did a little research and found something that didn’t fit.
The Breast Center at West Boca Diagnostic Imaging is led by Dr. Cheryl Moss-Mellman, who is a breast specialist.
We looked up Dr. Moss-Mellman and this is what we found on her website:
Her website indicates she is board-certified in internal medicine** and that she has been “specializing in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology … since 1990.” Dr. Moss-Mellman clearly has outstanding credentials as a physician. But it is unclear how the medical center can describe her as a “breast specialist.”
Four days ago I sent an e-mail reply to the press release asking for an explanation. In the past these requests have received responses. In this case there has been no answer.
Update – We received this response from WBMC:
Dr. Moss-Mellman brings over 20 years of experience and expertise to women’s health. In addition to being an associate professor at Florida Atlantic University where she teaches clinical skills, and lectures weekly to medical students on breast health, Dr. Moss-Mellman comes to our Breast Center after serving in a similar capacity at another area hospital. The Breast Center at West Boca Medical Center now has a physician who can truly help women in the greater Palm Beach County community with their medical needs.
Dr. Moss-Mellman is speaking tomorrow at the Glades Library about breast health, so perhaps she’ll be able to explain more then.
More from the release:
Features of the Breast Center at West Boca Diagnostic Imaging include:
• Physician specializing in breast disease, on site
• Radiologists Fellowship Trained in Breast Imaging, on site
• Patient navigator on site coordinating care
• Access to clinical research trials
• Clinical breast exams
• Diagnostic procedures including mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and core needle biopsies
• Genetics counseling and testing
• High-risk assessments
• Personalized follow-up programs based on individual risk factors
• Surgical consultations
Advanced imaging procedures offered consist of:
• Digital mammography
• MRI
• Ultrasound
• 64 slice CT scanner
The new center is apparently part of West Boca Diagnostic Imaging, which also appears to be a sister subsidiary with WBMC of Tenet Healthcare.
**Further update**
Based on a user comment, we checked and Dr. Moss-Mellman is not currently board-certified in internal medicine. Her website says, correctly, that she became board-certified in 1990. However, it is misleading because it fails to mention that certification lapsed in 2000. Further, the Florida state website indicates that she has verified its record which states she is board certified. See images below:
