Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program Earns National Accreditation
12/11/2018
SCRANTON, Pa. (Dec. 11, 2018) –The Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, has granted three-year accreditation with three commendations to the Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program, an Integrated Network Cancer Program.
The program includes Regional Hospital of Scranton, Moses Taylor Hospital and Delta Medix, along with the entire cancer community, including Hematology Oncology of NEPA, Scranton Hematology & Oncology, Northeast Regional Cancer Institute, The Foundation for Cancer Care and the American Cancer Society.
To earn accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 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.
“This represents a major advancement in cancer care for our community,” Dr. Terrence Lenahan, chairman of the Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program Cancer Committee, said. “We now have even more resources as we continue our coordinated efforts to battle this terrible disease.”
As an accredited cancer center, the Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program 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. This collaborative effort in cancer care brings the highest quality patient care to the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania.
In working toward accreditation, the Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program has improved its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, lifelong followup for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care.
“Collaboration among the many entities and providers in the INCP for the betterment of our patients is key to a successful program,” Dr. Mary Sewatsky, chairwoman of the program’s quality committee, said. “I congratulate the entire team for its dedication, intellect and professionalism in this endeavor that has already improved the quality and safety of cancer services in NEPA.”
Patients receiving care through the Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program have access to clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services including psychosocial support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.
The Commonwealth Health Cancer Network Program is one of 70 Integrated Network Cancer Programs in the United States and one of five in Pennsylvania.
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