Dec. 16, 2013. The Commission on Cancer (C0C) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted three-year accreditation to the cancer program at Frye Regional Medical 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, Frye 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.
“Maintaining our accreditation with the ACOS is an important part of our mission at Frye,” said Ken Parish, MD, Medical Director for Frye’s Cancer Center.
“Our goal is to approach each patient as an individual and to use a multi-disciplinary team to its fullest potential to provide the best possible care.”
The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for Frye 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 followup 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 survivor’s quality of life.
Like all CoC accredited facilities, Frye maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Database (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society (ACS). This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world. Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to the information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.
ACS estimates that more than 1.6 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2013. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients.
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. The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program through the CoC Hospital Locator.
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, 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. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. For more information, visit www.facs.org/cancer.
Frye Regional Medical Center
The Cancer Center at Frye Regional Medical Center combines the latest treatments with practical information and warm support to create a holistic approach to cancer care. With its designation as a Comprehensive Cancer Center, Frye uses state-of-the-art technology and minimally invasive techniques to treat many forms of cancer including: breast, lung, colorectal, skin and prostate cancer. Frye also supports cancer prevention by offering mammograms, colonoscopies and CT lung screenings to people in the community.
The clinical team at Frye creates a nurturing environment where cancer patients and their families receive not just the latest treatments, but also the information, support and encouragement they seek. Frye’s Cancer Nurse Navigators regularly help guide families through both medical and non-medical issues that may arise, and social workers and counselors offer guidance and support. Explore the road to recovery with Frye’s accredited Cancer Center at www.fryemedctr.com.
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