News

February 11, 2016

Cancer care program at Saint Anne’s Hospital earns three-year approval with commendation from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons

Prestigious approval ensures patients’ access to high-quality, comprehensive cancer care

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted three-year accreditation with commendation to Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center.

Three-year accreditation with commendation is awarded only to facilities that exceed standard requirements at the time of its triennial survey.  To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

“As the area’s first, most experienced community cancer program, Saint Anne’s has had the privilege of caring for thousands of patients with a cancer diagnosis,” said Saint Anne’s Hospital President Craig Jesiolowski.  “It is an honor to be recognized once again by the Commission on Cancer for the scope and impact of the high level of care, and caring, provided by our team.”

Forty years of high-quality cancer care
Saint Anne’s Hospital’s cancer care program was established in 1976 and first accredited by the Commission on Cancer in 1982. 

As a CoC-accredited, comprehensive community cancer program, Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, surgeons, pathologists, and other cancer specialists.  This partnership results in improved patient care. 

Saint Anne’s program was specially cited for expertise in a number of areas, including commendation for the nursing staff.  Ninety-four percent of Saint Anne’s oncology nurses have earned oncology nursing certification (OCN) from the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation – far above the basic standard of 25% for commendation.

Other areas of Saint Anne’s cancer program that were cited for excellence were cancer registrar education; public reporting of outcomes via an annual report; voluntary participation in the Rapid Quality Reporting System (a voluntary data submission program that supports care coordination for breast and colorectal cancer patients); and accuracy of data submissions.

About Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center
Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center provides expertise with the care and convenience of a community setting to patients at the Hudner Oncology Center at Saint Anne’s Hospital, Fall River, and at Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center-Hawthorn, in Dartmouth.  The center provides a wide range of services, including:

  • comprehensive medical oncology and hematology care
  • radiation oncology services provided by physicians from Brigham and Women’s Radiation Oncology, who also hold appointments at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Harvard Medical School
  • access to national clinical trials
  • related professional and patient/family support services

In addition to accreditation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, Saint Anne’s Hospital Regional Cancer Center is unconditionally accredited in radiation oncology by the American College of Radiology.

About Saint Anne’s Hospital
Saint Anne’s Hospital is a community hospital with comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care services, serving adults and children from southeastern Massachusetts and nearby Rhode Island at its main campus in Fall River and its community outpatient satellites in Attleboro, Swansea, North Dartmouth, New Bedford, and Stoughton.  Founded in 1906 by the Dominican Sisters of the Presentation, Saint Anne's Hospital is a member of Steward Health Care System LLC, the largest fully integrated community care organization and community hospital network in New England.  Saint Anne’s has been recognized time and again for quality, safety and service by such organizations as The Joint Commission, Healthgrades, The Leapfrog Group, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.