Surgeons group again lauds hospital

For the second consecutive three-year cycle and capping 27 straight years of kudos, the oncology program at Vassar Brothers Medical Center has been awarded a three-year “accreditation with commendation” by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), an arm of the American College of Surgeons.

Vassar Brothers is one of only 21 “comprehensive cancer centers” in New York state to have retained its accreditation since 1984.

The accreditation program of the CoC sets 36 quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and also reviews them. The standards include cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

“Accreditation is only granted by the CoC to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care,” Vassar Brothers said in a statement. “Each facility must undergo a rigorous evaluation process including on-site inspection and review of their performance.”

By meeting the standards, patients at Vassar Brothers have access to:

Ӣ comprehensive care, including a complete range of services and equipment;

Ӣ a team approach to coordinate the best available options;

Ӣ information about ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatments;

Ӣ prevention and early detection programs, cancer education and support services;

Ӣ a cancer registry that collects data on type and stages of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up;

Ӣ ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care; and

Ӣ quality care, close to home.

Vassar Brothers is an affiliate of the Health Quest hospital system, which also includes Northern Dutchess Hospital in Rhinebeck and Putnam Hospital Center in Carmel.

The CoC membership includes the Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 42 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.