image: Sharon Riley is chief executive officer and vice president for UT Southwestern University Hospitals. view more
Credit: UT Southwestern Medical Center
DALLAS – April 7, 2009 – UT Southwestern University Hospital recently received the Commission on Cancer (CoC) Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons.
The award recognizes programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Facilities receive the designation through rigorous on-site evaluations which must demonstrate compliance within a series of cancer program standards, including: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.
In 2008 programs at 478 community-based facilities, teaching hospitals, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive centers and network cancer centers underwent site visits and evaluations by physician surveyors. University Hospital is among 93 facilities (19 percent) nationwide to receive this designation.
"Clearly, this is a team effort, and it highlights the integration of care for our cancer patients," said Sharon Riley, chief executive officer and vice president for UT Southwestern University Hospitals. "This recognition, through on-site evaluation, helps validate our multidisciplinary approach and our partnership with the entire campus to provide excellent patient care."
There are currently more than 1,400 CoC-approved cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. These CoC facilities diagnose and/or treat 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.
"This designation is another step in our goal of providing the best possible cancer care in North Texas," said Dr. James Willson, director of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at UT Southwestern. "It also highlights our collaborations among programs in clinical care, scientific research and cancer prevention."
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.
Approval by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a review of their performance. To maintain approval, facilities must undergo an on-site review every three years.
Visit http://www.utsouthwestern.org/cancercenter to learn more about clinical services in cancer at UT Southwestern.
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Dr. James Willson -- http://www.utsouthwestern.edu/findfac/professional/0,2356,70336,00.html