ALTOONA – The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted a three-year accreditation with commendation to the cancer program at Altoona Regional Health System.
Only 30 percent of hospital cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico attain this status yet they diagnose and or treat approximately 80 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.
“This seal of approval from the Commission on Cancer confirms that we have achieved the high quality care we want to provide our patients,” said Jack Schocker, M.D., medical director of Radiation Oncology at the Center for Cancer Care. “It is a tribute to every member of our team.”
The Commission on Cancer’s (CoC) accreditation program sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to facilities that voluntarily commit to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and performance review.
To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.
Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:
- Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the art services and equipment.
- A multi-specialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options.
- Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.
- Access to cancer-related information, education and support.
- A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up.
- Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.
- Quality care close to home.