WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center Accreditations
The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), has granted Three-Year Accreditation to the cancer program at WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 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. Because it is a CoC-accredited cancer center, WellSpan Ephrata Cancer 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. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care.
The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for WellSpan Ephrata Cancer Center to improve 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, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including psycho-social 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. When cancer patients choose to seek care locally at a CoC-accredited cancer center, they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home.
American College of Radiation Oncology
The American College of Radiation Oncology (ACRO) Practice Accreditation Program began in 1995 and consists of standards of practice for Radiation Oncology. Accreditation is voluntary and is most often chosen because of a program’s commitment to quality. An audit of the practice is conducted to assure that ACRO standards of safe and effective radiation oncology practice are being followed. These standards are continually evaluated and updated to reflect present standards of practice.
Practice auditing includes:
- Evaluating equipment in relationship to disease sites treated, appropriate quantity of equipment for patient load, and function of equipment.
- Type of staff and quality of staff in terms of certification and educational commitment.
- Peer review against current accepted standards of practice according to the patient diagnosis.
- Site visit following initial evaluation of the survey documents to verify data submitted and clarify staff knowledge and any clinical case reviewer issues.
Full accreditation is for a period of three years and demonstrates a program’s commitment to quality in Radiation Oncology.
