The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at The Medical Center. The Medical Center received a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which The Medical Center demonstrated 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, the facility received a compliance rating for all other standards.
The Medical Center earned its first CoC accreditation in 2004. The Medical Center provides Southcentral Kentucky with the most comprehensive cancer program including an on-site radiation treatment center with the most advanced technology, as well as chemotherapy and surgical services. The Medical Center also offers an extensive range of health and wellness programs for the community, focused on increasing awareness of the importance of prevention, early detection, and treatment options.
The CoC is 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. The Accreditation 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. Accreditation by the CoC 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 accreditation, The Medical Center 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 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
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 1.5 million cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2010. 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 diagnose and/or treat 71 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients every year.
