This certification evaluates 25 indicators that support quality, safety, and continuous improvement in the care of breast cancer patients.
By
Paula Treviño
| TecSalud Communications
-
08/06/2026
Read time: 4 mins
The TecSalud Breast Cancer Center is the first and only center in Mexico to receive Quality Oncology Practice Initiative(QOPI)certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).
Dr. Omar Peña, a medical oncologist at this center, says that processes, coordinated work among specialists, and ongoing quality assessment are some of the elements that distinguish a center of excellence in oncology.
Dr. Peña, who also coordinated this certification process, explained that this distinction evaluates 25 indicators covering the entire care continuum, including consultation, treatment, follow-up, and administrative processes.
“The goal is to standardize the entire care process so that every breast cancer patient receives treatment based on international standards,” he said.
For the oncologist, QOPI certification signifies more than just recognition. It represents an ongoing commitment to continuous improvement and patient safety.
Photos of patients who have “graduated” from the Breast Cancer Center.
Standardization as the cornerstone of care
Dr. Peña emphasized that one of the main benefits of QOPI certification is that all accredited centers operate under the same criteria. This makes it possible to provide consistent care and objectively measure the quality of their processes.
As an example, he explained the pain management indicator, which stipulates that, during at least one of the two most recent visits, the doctor must ask if the patient is experiencing pain, assess its intensity, and record it in the medical record.
“That information allows all QOPI-certified centers to make objective decisions about treatment and ensure they provide care that meets the same quality standards,” he said.
Dr. Mauricio Canavati, Director of the TecSalud Breast Cancer Center, during a consultation.
A journey that began in 2018
The Breast Cancer Center began its journey toward QOPI certification in 2018 when it was looking for tools to measure and strengthen its processes.
Dr. Peña noted how, during that year, the team identified areas within the Center which needed improvement and lacked a clear system in place for evaluation and performance management.
“We found that QOPI had everything we were looking for: indicators, statistics, and a model that would allow us to compare ourselves to leading oncology institutions,” he said.
From that point on, the Center embarked on a process of continuous improvement to establish a care model based on international standards.
Dr. Cynthia Villarreal, a medical oncologist specializing in breast cancer, Director of the TecSalud Institute of Oncology, and Director of Medical Oncology at the Breast Cancer Center.
A certification that involves the entire institution
However, the specialist noted that obtaining QOPI certification required much more than simply meeting clinical requirements. It was also necessary to improve administrative processes.
Dr. Marta Urdiales, head of Clinical Quality at TecSalud, is among the people who made this process possible.
“Together with her team, she spearheaded the update of policies, manuals, and procedures that enabled the integration of the Center’s clinical and administrative processes in accordance with QOPI standards,” Dr. Peña said.
He also highlighted the work of Dr. Emmeline Rochelle, a patient navigator at the Breast Cancer Center, who helped establish a model of comprehensive and coordinated care among the various specialists involved in patient care.
“All of this effort allowed us to meet more than 80% of the indicators established by ASCO and ultimately obtain QOPI certification in 2025,” he said.
Dr. Cynthia Villarreal and Dr. Omar Peña receiving their QOPI certification.
An impact that goes beyond recognition
The doctor says that the main benefit of QOPI certification is that it reduces the risk of errors when caring for people with breast cancer.
“A mistake rarely depends on a single person. It’s almost always the result of an entire process,” the oncologist said.
He also noted that another benefit is the strengthening of collaboration among different service areas, which fosters a unified work culture.
“In oncology, minimizing errors saves lives.” – Dr. Omar Peña
The challenge lies in maintaining the standard
Dr. Peña noted that the main difference between a certified facility and others is that it has a system in place to continuously monitor compliance with processes and ensure their ongoing improvement.
“It’s not about having a certificate on the wall. It’s about having active protocols in place and people who continuously monitor to ensure that things are done right,” he said.
He added that the certification must be renewed every three years by completing a new audit and, when necessary, including updated indicators.
“TecSalud’s next goal is to recertify the Breast Cancer Center and extend this quality model to the rest of the Oncology Institute and its subspecialties,” he noted.
The team of specialists at the TecSalud Breast Cancer Center.
Finally, for Dr. Omar Peña, obtaining QOPI certification means having the assurance that the Breast Cancer Center’s processes meet the standards of an organization specializing in oncology.
He added that this recognition motivates the team to continually evaluate and improve its processes to provide safe, high-quality care to people with breast cancer.
Thanks to this work, the Center has continued to earn international certifications, including ASCO Certified: Patient-Centered Cancer Care Standards, which recognizes cancer centers that provide safe, coordinated care focused on each patient’s needs.
“Without a committed institution, achievements like these simply wouldn’t be possible,” he concluded.
