AMH Cancer Care Center achieves four-year accreditation
ALTON – The Cancer Care Center at Alton Memorial Hospital has demonstrated compliance with the standards of the American Society for Radiation Oncology Accreditation Program for Excellence.
As of March 31, the Cancer Care Center has a four-year accreditation of its radiation oncology services, making it the first center in Illinois to achieve that designation.
The accreditation program, known as APEx, is an independent radiation oncology practice accreditation program developed by American Society for Radiation Oncology, known as ASTRO. It is based on a set of 16 evidence-based standards of radiation oncology practice. The standards are focused on five pillars of patient care: 1) the process of care; 2) the radiation oncology team; 3) safety; 4) quality management; and 5) patient-centered care.
“The Cancer Care Center is pleased to receive APEx accreditation from the premier radiation oncology society in the world,” said Stacey Ballard, manager of Radiation Oncology at AMH. “Evaluating our processes in relation to ASTRO’s high standards, including standards for safety and quality, validates our practices and recognizes the efforts of our radiation oncology team to deliver patient-centered radiation oncology care.”
“ASTRO is proud to recognize the Alton Memorial Hospital Cancer Care Center for achieving APEx accreditation,” said ASTRO chair David C. Beyer, MD. “Alton Memorial’s Cancer Care Center has demonstrated a commitment to providing its patients with safe, high-quality radiation therapy services.”
Accreditation through APEx is a rigorous, voluntary, multi-step process that can take up to one year to complete.
“Achieving APEx accreditation is a tremendous honor and a testament to the strength of our clinical and administrative teams,” said Dr. Gregory Vlacich, MD, PhD, medical director of Radiation Oncology at Alton Memorial Hospital. “In conjunction with our partners within the BJC and Washington University systems, accreditation further highlights our collaborative efforts to provide high-quality, patient-directed, and technologically-advanced care to the River Bend area.”
PHOTO: Lori Hasquin and Dr. Gregory Vlacich treat a patient in Alton Memorial Hospital’s Cancer Care Center.
— From the Illinois Business Journal
