St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Mt. Vernon Radiation Therapy Center
Receives Prestigious ACR Accreditation
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (March 11, 2009) –The Center for Comprehensive Cancer Care, a joint venture between Dr. Yagnesh Oza and St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, has been awarded a three-year accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR) for their Diagnostic CT (computed tomography) program. The ACR accreditation demonstrates the organization’s commitment to quality care and patient safety.
Dr. Oza, facility medical director, leads the oncology program, providing patients with
state-of-the-art therapeutic and diagnostic services. “It’s exciting to receive this accreditation from the ACR,” said Dr. Oza. “It lets our patients, as well as anyone who might need cancer services in the future, know that our services here are of the highest standards in both quality and safety.”
In addition to the ACR accreditation, the program is accredited by the American College of Radiation Oncology. Recently, the cancer program also received approval with commendation from the Commission on Cancer.
“We are committed to achieving the highest quality of care and our patients can rest assured knowing that they are receiving state-of-the art oncology services close to home,” said Dr. Oza.
The ACR, headquartered in Reston, VA, awards accreditation to facilities for the achievement of high practice standards after a peer-review evaluation of the practice. Evaluations are conducted by board-certified physicians and medical physicists who are experts in the field. They assess the qualifications of the personnel and the adequacy of facility equipment and procedures performed. The surveyors report their findings to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report.
St. Mary’s Good Samaritan’s Cancer Programs Receive Commendation
(Mt.Vernon/Centralia) The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted a Three-Year Approval with Commendation to the Cancer Programs at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan, Mt. Vernon Campus and Centralia Campus
The commendation was granted following the on-site evaluations by physician surveyors during which St. Mary’s Good Samaritan demonstrated a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program which includes: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement. In addition, the cancer program received a compliance rating for all other standards.
The Approvals Program, a component of the COC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Approval of the COC is give 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.
Commission's Approval is a Recognition of the Quality of our Comprehensive Patient Care
State of the Art Treatment, Close to Home!
(Centralia/Mt. Vernon) The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted a Three-Year Approval with Commendation to both Cancer Programs at St. Mary’s Good Samaritan in Centralia and Mt. Vernon.
The commendations were granted following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which St. Mary’s Good Samaritan demonstrated a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer programs, which includes: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement. In addition, the cancer programs received a compliance rating for all other standards.
The Approvals Program, a component of the COC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Approval of the COC is give 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.
"We're dedicated to offering the best cancer care, and are proud to have brought the very best in today's cancer treatment closer to home," said Dr. M. Zahir Ansari, Chairperson of the Cancer Committee at St. Mary's Good Samaritan, Centralia Campus.
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer 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 monitroing of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 42 national organizations tha treflect the full spectrum of cancer care.
The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.4 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2008. There are currently more than 1400 Commission on Cancer approved cancer programs in the nation, representing close to 25% of all hospitals. This 25% of hospitals will diagnose and/or treat 80% of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.
The commendation ensures that patients 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 on and access to clinical trials and new treatment options
* an active cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results, offering lifelong patient follow-up
* ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
* access to cancer-related information, education, and support
* quality care close to home
Dr. Yagnesh Oza, Medical Director of the Cancer Program at St. Mary's Good Samaritan's Mt. Vernon Campus, commented, "The Commission on Cancer commendation is something we can be very proud of, and is worth achieving for our patients."