FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
VHC Health Cancer Center Receives Accreditation with Commendation from the American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer
Arlington, VA (May 9, 2024) – The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer (CoC) has proudly awarded accreditation to VHC Health's cancer program. This recognition demonstrates VHC Health's dedication to providing its community with the highest quality cancer care.
The CoC is made up of prominent professional organizations committed to improving patient outcomes and quality of life and conducts rigorous evaluations of cancer programs to ensure they meet and surpass set requirements. The CoC's accreditation demonstrates a facility's commitment to providing excellent care while meeting high quality-of-care standards.
VHC Health has upheld its CoC certification since 1980, demonstrating its long-standing commitment to providing superior cancer care. The latest evaluation of the cancer program involved a thorough review that included patient-centered care from a multidisciplinary team, access to clinical trials and new treatments, continuous care monitoring and lifelong patient follow-up, psychosocial support and survivorship care, and ongoing quality improvement initiatives.
Dr. Mary Kathleen Christian, MD, a site reviewer for the Commission on Cancer, commended VHC Health's cancer program, stating, "It was a pleasure to review this wonderful program. The program has strong support from administrative leadership, allowing the Cancer Committee and supportive services to be innovative in its program improvement."
The review highlighted several strengths of the program. Among these is its highly skilled nursing staff, with over 30% holding oncology certification. Additionally, the program offers a wide range of supportive services in areas such as nutrition, rehabilitation, survivorship, social work, and navigation. It also proactively engages in genetic counseling to raise awareness and facilitate referrals for eligible patients. Furthermore, the program is dedicated to removing barriers to care, ensuring the best possible outcomes for patients.
"We are honored to receive accreditation with commendation from the Commission on Cancer," said Melody Dickerson, DNP, MSN, RN, CENP, CPHQ, FACHE; Senior Vice President, Hospital Operations & Chief Nursing Officer at VHC Health. "This recognition reflects our unwavering commitment to providing compassionate, comprehensive cancer care to our patients.”
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About VHC HealthTM: VHC Health provides exceptional medical services as our region’s community health system. Virginia Hospital Center was designated a 2021 Top Teaching Hospital by The Leapfrog Group. In 2022, the Hospital was selected for an 11th consecutive Healthgrades Outstanding Patient Experience Award™ and a 21st consecutive ‘A’ grade from The Leapfrog Group. Virginia Hospital Center is a 453-bed not-for-profit teaching facility and designated as a Magnet® hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. VHC Health is a proud member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network – a national network of independent healthcare organizations.
