MUMC Cancer Program Granted Prestigious Accreditation

Savannah, GA, January 25, 2013 --(PR.com)-- The Curtis and Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute (ACI) at Memorial University Medical Center has been granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation by The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons. The CoC accreditation is only given to facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and agree to undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance every three years. This is the second consecutive CoC accreditation that the ACI has received. The ACI is the only facility in the Savannah area to receive Accreditation with Commendation.

“This accreditation confirms that the ACI’s treatment programs meet or exceed national benchmarks in quality care. Receiving this accreditation in consecutive review cycles places the ACI near the top of the nation’s 1,500 accredited cancer centers,” said Guy Petruzzelli, M.D., Ph.D., MBA, FACS, vice president and physician-in-chief at the ACI.

The ACI’s accreditation followed an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor who examined the ACI’s leadership, data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement programs. A CoC-accredited cancer program ensures a patient will have access to:
· Comprehensive care, including state-of-the art services and equipment
· A multispecialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
· Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
· Access to cancer-related information, education, and support
· A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up
· Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
· Quality care close to home

The 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico represent close to 30 percent of all hospitals. This 30 percent cares for 80 percent of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. More information on the CoC can be found at www.facs.org/cancer.

Memorial University Medical Center is a two-state healthcare organization serving a 35-county area in southeast Georgia and southern South Carolina. The system includes its flagship hospital, a 610-bed academic medical center; Memorial primary and specialty physician networks; a major medical education program; business and industry services; and NurseOne, a 24-hour call center. To learn more, visit www.memorialhealth.com. You can follow us at facebook.com/memorialhealth, twitter.com/mymemorial, and youtube.com/memorialhealth.