Mercy Cancer Program Receives Accreditation, Commendation

 

Mercy Regional Medical Center’s cancer program was awarded a three-year accreditation, with commendation, by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer.

 

The evaluation of Mercy’s cancer program was conducted through an on-site survey process.  To receive accreditation, facilities must demonstrate a commitment to quality care, ongoing improvement, and public accountability for the care and services they provide.

 

“This survey result is another great affirmation of the care our physicians and staff provide for patients every day. We have access to cancer services rarely available in communities of our size, and this helps us not to take them for granted,” said Kip Boyd, M.D., chief medical officer at Mercy.

 

The ACOS Commission on Cancer accredits a broad-based network of comprehensive cancer programs that offer the entire spectrum of cancer control activities, from prevention to rehabilitation and long-term care follow-up.

 

Only 8 of the 22 cancer programs in Colorado and 40 percent of the 1,409 cancer programs nationally that have applied for accreditation through the ACoS Commission on Cancer have received either a three-year accreditation or three-year accreditation with commendation.  Facilities may be accredited with contingencies or denied accreditation.  Applications for accreditation are voluntary.

 

Overall ratings are based on compliance with 36 standards of care.  Mercy’s cancer program received commendation in the following areas: abstracting timeframe; submission of quality criteria; prevention and early detection; cancer education for its cancer registry; and cancer-related quality improvements.

 

Since it’s inception in 1922, the Commission’s goal has been to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancer through accreditation, standard setting, and the monitoring of quality care.  Currently almost 1,500 facilities have gained accreditation of their cancer programs.  The standards continue to promote and support multidisciplinary care and improvements to quality overall.

Mercy Regional Medical Center is is a full-service, acute care hospital. As a not-for-profit medical hospital and member of Catholic Health Initiatives, Mercy is committed to improving the health and wellness of the communities it serves. See www.mercydurango.org for more information.

Catholic Health Initiatives is a national nonprofit health organization with headquarters in Denver. The faith-based system includes 77 hospitals; 40 long-term care, assisted- and residential-living facilities; and two community health-services organizations in 20 states. Catholic Health Initiatives ranks as the nation’s second-largest Catholic health care system. See www.catholichealthinitiatives.org for more information.