Annual Outstanding Achievement Award is granted to encourage accredited cancer programs to raise the bar on quality cancer care
Oceanside, CA – The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) named Tri-City Medical Center as a recipient of its 2013 Outstanding Achievement Award. The medical center joined a select group of 74 accredited cancer programs throughout the United States, and was one of only two named in San Diego and four in the state. Award criteria were based on qualitative and quantitative surveys conducted last year.
Tri-City Medical Center was evaluated on 34 program standards categorized within one of five cancer program activity areas: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, cancer conferences, clinical services and quality improvement. Tri-City Medical Center was further evaluated on seven commendation standards. To be eligible, all award recipients must have received commendation ratings in all seven commendation standards, in addition to receiving a compliance rating for each of the 34 other standards.
“We are deeply honored to have earned this recognition,” said Casey Fatch, interim CEO of Tri-City Medical Center. “Our medical staff has worked hard to raise the bar on quality cancer care, with the ultimate goal of increasing awareness about quality care choices among cancer patients and their loved ones. Tri-City Medical Center’s cancer programs ensure the full continuum of cancer care, from prevention through hospice and end-of-life care with dignity and quality of life.”
Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS, Chair of the CoC, said “More and more, we’re finding that patients and their families want to know how the health care institutions in their communities compare with one another. They want access to information in terms of who’s providing the best quality of care, and they want to know about overall patient outcomes. Through this recognition program, I’d like to think we’re playing a small, but vital role, in helping them make informed decisions on their cancer care.”
The 74 award-winning, cancer-care programs represent approximately 14 percent of programs surveyed by the CoC in 2013.
“These 74 cancer programs currently represent the best of the best—so to speak—when it comes to cancer care,” added Dr. McKellar. “Each of these facilities is not just meeting nationally recognized standards for the delivery of quality cancer care, they are exceeding them.”
OAA recipients represent community-based facilities, academic hospitals, NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, Veterans Administration hospitals, integrated networks, pediatric hospitals, and freestanding cancer centers. For a list of these award winning cancer programs visit: www.facs.org/cancer/coc/outstandingachievement2013list.html.
About Tri-City Medical Center
Tri-City Medical Center has served its community for more than half a century and is a Gold Seal- approved full service, acute- care hospital with two advanced institutes and over 500 physicians practicing in 60 specialties. Tri-City Medical Center has become the county’s leader in robotic and minimally invasive surgical technologies, including being the exclusive county-wide provider for the Mazor Renaissance Surgical Guidance System for surgical repair of spinal deformities, injuries and rehabilitation. Tri-City Medical Center is also a nationwide destination for hip preservation surgery. Tri-City Medical Center also has the only Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in North San Diego County, now with the NICView System, a password-protected webcam system that allows parents and relatives to remotely view their newest family member. Tri-City Medical Center is recognized as an innovator in medical treatments, research, technology and care delivery as well as an anchor of health in the country.
For more information about Tri-City Medical Center and Tri-City Healthcare District, please visit www.tricitymed.org
About Mission: Lifeline
The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for STEMI patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org/missionlifeline and heart.org/quality.
About the Commission on Cancer’s Outstanding Achievement Award
Established in 2004, the CoC’s Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Programs are evaluated on 34 cancer program standards categorized within one of five cancer program activity areas: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, cancer conferences, clinical services and quality improvement. Programs are further evaluated on seven commendation standards. 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. For more information on program standards, visit: www.facs.org/cancer/index.html.
About the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
Established in 1922 by the ACS, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services, and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program online at: www.facs.org/cancerprogram/index.html.
