Washington Hospital's Community Cancer Program Accredited with Commendation

Fremont, CA, October 9, 2012- Washington Hospital is pleased to announce that it has received a three-year Accreditation Award with Commendation from the American College of Surgeon’s Commission on Cancer (CoC). The accreditation acknowledges Washington Hospital as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program.

Each year, Washington Hospital sees more than 750 cancer patients. For these patients as well as those currently receiving treatment, this accreditation provides assurance that a high level of care is being delivered by some of the best caregivers in the nation using the most advanced technology. Washington Hospital’s Community Cancer Program previously received an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer in 2009.

"This could not have been achieved without the hard work and dedication of many physicians and caregivers affiliated with this program and demonstrates that the residents of the District have access to the most advanced and comprehensive treatments available," said Nancy Farber, Chief Executive Officer of Washington Hospital Healthcare System. "When dealing with a diagnosis like cancer and the rigorous schedule that's often associated with its treatment, I think it's comforting to those who live here that they don't need to travel great distances to receive the best care."

Washington Hospital's Community Cancer Program received the three-year accreditation following an on site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the Hospital demonstrated commendation level compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program. This includes cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

"Everyone worked very hard for the three-year accreditation of the Cancer Program and the Accreditation Award with Commendation reflects the added efforts of all who are associated with the Hospital's cancer programs," said Vandana Sharma, M.D., medical oncologist, and chair of Washington Hospital's Cancer Committee. "The Accreditation Award validates what we've known for quite some time, that Washington Hospital’s cancer services are the best available anywhere in the state. Patients getting treated locally can rest assured that the best care is right here in Fremont." The accreditation program sets quality of care standards for cancer programs and reviews programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC 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 CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.

The mission of the Community Cancer Program is to offer people with cancer and their families the most effective diagnostic services, treatment, information and support possible as they make the journey through cancer treatment. Because high-quality care and excellent patient outcomes are the top priority, cancer program staff monitors, measures and continuously strives to improve services. At the same time, guided by the patient first ethic, program staff focuses on providing comfort, privacy and treating each individual with dignity.

Washington Hospital's Community Cancer Program includes screening and early detection programs, surgical oncology, medical oncology, tumor board, tumor registry, clinical research, oncology nursing, social services, support services and the Washington Radiation Oncology Center. The core functions of the Commission on Cancer (CoC) include setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with 36 CoC standards; collecting standardized quality data from accredited facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state and local levels.

About Washington Township Health Care District: Washington Township Health Care District is governed by an elected board of directors. Unlike a municipal or county hospital, Washington Hospital’s operating expenses, research, community programs, and employee salaries are funded by revenues generated through providing patient and other health care services. Washington Hospital Healthcare System includes a 359-bed acute-care hospital; the Taylor McAdam Bell Neuroscience Institute; The Gamma Knife® Center; Washington Radiation Oncology Center; Washington Outpatient Surgery Center; Washington Outpatient Rehabilitation Center; Washington Outpatient Catheterization Laboratory; Institute for Joint Restoration and Research; the Institute for Minimally Invasive and Robotic Surgery; and Washington West, a complex which houses Washington Women’s Center, Outpatient Imaging Center, Sandy Amos R.N. Infusion Center, Washington Urgent Care and additional outpatient hospital services and administrative facilities.