Tift Regional Medical Center (TRMC) received special accreditations from the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) for its oncology center and breast health program as well as the American College of Radiology (ACR) for being designated as a center of excellence in low-dose CT lung cancer screenings.
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the ACoS granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the TRMC Anita Stewart Oncology Center. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation is only awarded to a facility that exceeds standard requirements at the time of its triennial survey.
“Because it is a CoC-accredited cancer center, the Anita Stewart Oncology Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists,” said William T. Richardson, President/CEO of Tift Regional Health System. “This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.”
In addition, TRMC’s Tift Comprehensive Breast Center was granted a three-year/full accreditation designation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC), a program administered by the ACoS. Accreditation by the NAPBC is only given to those centers that have voluntarily committed to provide the highest level of quality breast care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.
“During the survey process, the center must demonstrate compliance with standards established by the NAPBC for treating women who are diagnosed with the full spectrum of breast disease,” said Dr. Joel Johnson, Medical Director of the Tift Comprehensive Breast Center. “The standards include proficiency in the areas of center leadership, clinical management, research, community outreach, professional education, and quality improvement. A breast center that achieves NAPBC accreditation has demonstrated a firm commitment to offer its patients every significant advantage in their battle against breast disease.”
The NAPBC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and monitoring of outcomes of patients with diseases of the breast. This mission is pursued through standard-setting, scientific validation, and patient and professional education. Its board membership includes professionals from 20 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of breast care.
TRMC has also earned accreditation as an ACR Designated Lung Cancer Center of Excellence, which recognizes facilities committed to providing quality screening care to patients at the highest risk for lung cancer. Facilities applying for designation must have an active ACR computed tomography (CT) scan accreditation in the chest module, as well as meet specific equipment, personnel and imaging protocol requirements. TRMC is one of only two hospitals south of Macon with this accreditation.
“Lung cancer screening with the use of low-dose CT, along with appropriate follow-up care, significantly reduces lung cancer deaths and is cost effective compared to other major cancer screening programs,” said Dr. Apurva Shah, Medical Director of Medical Oncology/Hematology at the Anita Stewart Oncology Center. “We are proud to have earned this special center-of-excellence accreditation and designation.”
The ACR is one of the largest and most influential medical associations in the United States. The ACR devotes its resources to making imaging and radiation therapy safe, effective and accessible to those who need it. Its 36,000 members include radiologists, radiation oncologists, medical physicists, interventional radiologists and nuclear medicine physicians.
“We would not be able to reach these distinctions without the hard work and skills of our physicians, nurses, technicians, therapists and support staff,” said Richardson. “Quality, safety and comfort for all patients is our top priority.”
Visit www.tiftregional.com for more information on the TRMC Anita Stewart Oncology Center, Tift Comprehensive Breast Center and low-dose CT lung cancer screening program.
