MUMC Cancer Program Granted Prestigious Accreditation

PR Log (Press Release) – Nov 23, 2009 – The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center has been granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation by The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons. The CoC accreditation is only given to facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. This is the second consecutive CoC accreditation that the ACI has received. ACI is the only facility in the region to have received this CoC Accreditation with Commendation.
The CoC’s accreditation program sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. To maintain accreditation, facilities must undergo an on-site review every three years.
“This accreditation confirms that the ACI’s treatment programs meet or exceed national benchmarks in quality care. Receiving this accreditation in two consecutive review cycles places the ACI near the top of the nation’s 1,400 accredited cancer centers,” said Jeremy Sibiski, FACHE director oncology services of the ACI.
The ACI’s accreditation followed an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor who evaluated the ACI’s cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement programs.  
A  CoC-accredited cancer program ensures a patient will have access to:
•   Comprehensive care, including state-of-the art services and equipment
•   A multispecialty 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
There are currently more than 1,400 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. This 25 percent of hospitals diagnoses and/or treats 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.  
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.  
More information on the Commission on Cancer can be found at www.facs.org/cancer/index.html.
Memorial University Medical Center is a two-state healthcare organization serving a 35-county area in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. The system includes its flagship hospital, a 530-bed academic medical center; Memorial primary and specialty care physician networks; a major medical education program; business and industry services; and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. Visit our Web site at www.memorialhealth.com.