The Martin Memorial cancer program has once again been granted three-year accreditation with commendation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.
Martin Memorial’s cancer program has been accredited by the Commission on Cancer for many years, but this is the second consecutive time it has received the commendation distinction, the highest possible level of accreditation.
A facility receives the distinction following on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. The program must demonstrate a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program: cancer committee leadership; cancer data management; clinical services; research; community outreach; and quality improvement. In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for all other standards. Martin Memorial offers a continuum of care that features outpatient services through the Robert and Carol Weissman Cancer Center, and in-patient services as well. That includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, clinical trials, social and support services, and nutritional counseling.
“This accreditation is a reflection of the hard work and dedication shown by physicians, clinical staff and support personnel who are making a tremendous difference in the lives of Treasure Coast residents every day,” said Cindy Pingolt, assistant vice president of professional services. “Cancer affects countless people in our community and we are determined to provide access to high-quality care that can help them battle the disease.”
The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients. The core functions of the commission include: setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with Commission on Cancer standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state and local levels.
Approval by the Commission on Cancer is given only to those 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. To maintain approval, facilities with an approved cancer program must undergo an on-site review every three years.
According to the Commission on Cancer, accredited programs ensure that patients receive: Quality care close to home; comprehensive care offering a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment; a multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options available to cancer patients; 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; information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.
There are currently more than 1,400 cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico approved by the Commission on Cancer, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. Those hospitals diagnose and/or treat 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.
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