Roger Williams Cancer Center lauded by American College of Surgeons

Roger Williams Cancer Center is one of 24 accredited cancer programs in the country to receive the June-December 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

The award acknowledges programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Roger Williams is the only cancer center in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine to receive this recognition during this time period.

“This national recognition recognizes our team’s efforts to deliver cancer care that not only meets national standards, but exceeds them,” said Kimberly O’Connell, Roger Williams Medical Center’s president. “Our center provides Rhode Island’s most comprehensive continuum of cancer care … that is recognized nationally for excellence.”

The Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in demonstrating compliance with the Commission on Cancer standards and are committed to ensuring high-quality cancer care. The award raises the bar on quality cancer care, with the ultimate goal of increasing awareness about quality care choices among cancer patients and their loved ones.

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“All our clinical, academic and research efforts are focused on advancing treatment and care for those with cancer,” said Dr. N. Joseph Espat, director of the Cancer Center at Roger Williams. “We believe patients are best cared for in a collaborative environment that includes surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, along with oncology nurses, laboratory professionals and support staff. This award is a reflection of our dedication to this philosophy of collaborative cancer care.”

To achieve the Outstanding Achievement Award, programs are evaluated on 34 cancer program standards categorized within one of four cancer program activity areas: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services and quality improvement. Seven of the 34 standards are evaluated as to whether they will receive commendation. Award recipients must have received commendation ratings in all seven commendation standards, in addition to receiving a compliance rating for each of the 34 cancer program standards.

Additionally, the Outstanding Achievement Award is intended to recognize cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients, motivate other cancer programs to work toward improving their level of care, facilitate dialogue between award recipients and health care professionals at other cancer facilities to share best practices and encourage honorees to serve as quality-care resources to other cancer programs.

In 2015, the Cancer Center at Roger Williams was classified by the Commission on Cancer as an Academic Comprehensive Cancer Center Program, placing it among a select group of cancer centers in New England to hold such a designation. Nationally, only 13 percent of Commission on Cancer programs hold the Academic Comprehensive Center Program designation.

The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. Its members includes fellows of the American College of Surgeons and representatives of 47 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

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