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Cancer care at Providence Alaska Medical Center is one of a kind in Alaska
ANCHORAGE, ALASKA – The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted three-year Accreditation with Commendation to the cancer program at Providence Alaska Medical Center. Providence is the only commission-accredited comprehensive cancer program in Alaska.
"The commission's accreditation means Alaskans can be confident they have access to the highest quality cancer care right here at home," said Wanda Katinszky, director of Oncology Services at Providence Alaska Medical Center.
Providence Alaska Medical Center received the accreditation July 24, 2009, following an on-site evaluation in 2008 by a physician surveyor.
The commission's Accreditation Program sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the commission is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.
To maintain accreditation, facilities with commission-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years. This is the second time Providence's cancer program has been accredited by the commission. The program first received accreditation in 2005.
Receiving care at a commission-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:
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comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment;
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a multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options;
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information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options;
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access to cancer-related information, education and support;
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a cancer registry that collects data on type and stages of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up;
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ongoing monitoring and improvement of care, and most importantly,
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quality care close to home.
The commission has accredited more than 1,400 cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. Although this number represents close to 25 percent of all hospitals in the U.S. and its territories, it is estimated that 80 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients are treated in these facilities.
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About Providence Alaska Medical Center
Providence Alaska Medical Center is part of Providence Health & Services, a not-for-profit network of hospitals, care centers, health plans, physicians, clinics, home health services, affiliated services and educational facilities.
About the Commission on Cancer
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates 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 and 42 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.
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