American College of Surgeons Recognizes RGH Cancer Program

Rochester General Hospital's Cancer program has received a 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer, the only Rochester area hospital to receive this award. In addition, the RGH Cancer Program has been re-certified with Commendation in the category of Teaching Hospital Cancer Program for an additional three- year period.
Only 30 cancer programs in the United States were honored with the 2006 Outstanding Achievement Award, representing just six percent of the approximately 500 programs surveyed during the year by the Commission on Cancer.
The Commission on Cancerís Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. A facility receives the Outstanding Achievement Award following an onsite evaluation by a physician surveyor, during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with seven standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program - cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement.
The receipt of the Outstanding Achievement Award and re-certification with commendation as a Teaching Hospital Cancer Program represents the culmination of the extraordinary efforts of the staffs of the Lipson Cancer Center and RGH Cancer Program, including physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, cancer research professionals, physicists, pharmacists, therapists, cancer registrars, administrators and volunteers.
ìThe high quality cancer care we offer at Rochester General Hospital is the product of a fully integrated team approach.î said Pradyumna Phatak M.D., chief of Medical Oncology and Director of the Oncology Strategic Service Unit. ìOur priority is to offer our patients the very best care possible, in a comfortable and compassionate setting. One of the strengths that we offer in the delivery of those services is a high spirit of collaboration among our practitioners and staff.î

The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of over 40 national and international professional organizations involved in the care of cancer patients. As its mission statement notes, the CoC is ìdedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.î To help achieve these goals, the CoC has developed a set of 36 standards which guide cancer programs in striving for excellence and quality in cancer care.

Rochester General Hospitalís Lipson Cancer Center is a clinical research affiliate of the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, New York.

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