Cancer Center honored for quality of care provided
Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center have received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
The award recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients, and was granted following an on-site inspection of the cancer program by a physician surveyor in 2009.
Vanderbilt was among 74 cancer centers in the United States to achieve this special recognition.
Fewer than 20 percent of the programs surveyed received the award.
“We are pleased to be recognized for the high quality of care that our outstanding team of nurses, clinicians and staff delivers to cancer patients here at Vanderbilt,” said Mark Kelley, M.D., associate professor of Surgery and chairman of the Cancer Committee.
“We are one of the few academic medical centers selected for this award, which recognizes our commitment to translating the latest scientific research into outstanding clinical care for our patients.”
The Vanderbilt Cancer Registry program manager, Judith Roberts, and her staff were responsible for collecting and verifying data and managing the application process for the award.
Vanderbilt was granted a three-year Accreditation with Commendation from the commission last year. The accreditation was based on an evaluation of the Cancer Center's programs, including cancer prevention, early detection, disease staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, surveillance for recurrent disease, psychosocial support and end-of-life care.