LANGHORNE, Pa., Feb. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- St. Mary Medical Center today announced that it has been granted recertification approval by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) - a distinction bestowed upon the best cancer programs in the United States.
Established by ACoS in 1932, the Approvals Program sets standards for cancer programs and reviews these programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Recognizing that cancer is a complex group of diseases, the program promotes consultation among surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary focus results in improved patient care.
Only 25 percent of hospitals nationwide receive ACoS cancer program certification. Approval is given only to facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancer and submit to a rigorous evaluation process and performance review.
St. Mary Medical Center earned an overall “1" rating, indicating no deficiencies in its program. St. Mary also received the highest possible rating for five of six standards against which it was measured. The six standards were selected by the ACoS from among 36 standards that it uses to evaluate cancer programs.
Greg Wozniak, President/CEO, hailed the distinction as an important achievement for St. Mary and ultimately an extraordinary asset for residents of Bucks County and cancer patients in southeastern Pennsylvania and beyond.
“St. Mary clearly has placed a great deal of emphasis on creating one of the best cancer programs in the region, and our interdisciplinary efforts have yielded this recognition from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons,” said Mr. Wozniak. “It is important for everyone in our community to be aware that if they - or someone they love - are confronted with cancer, there is solace in knowing that the highest standards of care are available right here at St. Mary.”
As outlined by ACoS, receiving care through a cancer program approved by the Commission on Cancer ensures that a patient will have access to: quality care close to home; comprehensive care offering a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment; a multi-specialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options available to cancer patients; information about cancer clinical trials, education, and support; lifelong patient follow up through a cancer registry that collects data on the type and stage of cancers and treatment results; and ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 1,368,030 cases of cancer were diagnosed in 2004. Further, cancer is the second leading cause of illness in Bucks County, and the demand for cancer services is expected to increase over the next decade. There are currently only 1,400 cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico that are approved by the Commission on Cancer. This group of hospitals (roughly 25 percent of all hospitals in the United States) diagnoses and/or treats 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.
About St. Mary Medical Center
St. Mary Medical Center was named one of the nation’s 100 Top Hospitals(R) in 2004 for the second consecutive year by Solucient, a leading source of health care information. Licensed for 327 beds and in the middle of a major expansion project, St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne is the most comprehensive medical center in Bucks County. With a staff of nearly 500 physicians and more than 2,000 employees committed to providing excellence in patient care, St. Mary offers up-to-date technology, including a comprehensive cardiovascular program, the only state-accredited Trauma Center in Bucks County, a Primary Stroke Care Center, specialized diagnostic capabilities, obstetrics, exceptional surgical services, including orthopedic joint replacement and rehab, and the St. Mary Regional Cancer Center, which is part of the Fox Chase Network.
For more information about the cancer program at St. Mary, call 215-710-5300. For a referral to a cancer specialist, call 215-710-5888.
St. Mary Medical Center
CONTACT: Kathleen Smith, +1-215-710-2090, or Patrick Donohue,+1-215-710-6908, both of St. Mary Medical Center
Web site: http://www.stmaryhealthcare.org/