Contact: Shannon Portell, (715) 271-2681
Eau Claire – The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons has granted its Outstanding Achievement Award to Sacred Heart Hospital in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as a result of surveys performed during 2010. Sacred Heart Hospital is one of a select group of 90 CoC-accredited cancer programs across the United States to earn this award, and is the only in the western Wisconsin region and one of only seven in the state.
Established in 2004, the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. The award is granted to facilities that demonstrate a commendation level of compliance in the areas of: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical management, research, community outreach, and quality improvement.
“This was truly a joint effort by our hospital staff and the physicians from Marshfield Clinic and OakLeaf Medical Network who practice here,” said Georgia Smith, RN, Director of Cancer Care Services at Sacred Heart Hospital. “Cancer care is not a single activity but represents the caring, skill and compassion of organizations, physicians and caregivers across a wide spectrum of specialties.”
In 2010, the Center for Cancer Treatment & Prevention at Sacred Heart Hospital received a three-year, renewed accreditation with commendation in all eight possible areas of commendation from the CoC, including: outcomes analysis, timeliness of abstracting, meeting national database quality criteria, following national pathology guidelines, enrolling patients in clinical trials, prevention and early detection, providing cancer education for staff, and ensuring cancer quality improvement. The level of compliance with the standards is determined during an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor.
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.
As a CoC-accredited program for more than 30 years, the Center for Cancer Treatment & Prevention at Sacred Heart Hospital offers comprehensive care including a complete range of state-of-the-art services and equipment, such as: A Trilogy linear accelerator with Rapid Arc ® and on-board imaging, which is the very latest technology for radiation therapy in our area; Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), which can treat tumors previously considered untreatable and can reduce the risk of complications or reoccurrences; a multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best available treatment options; information about ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatment options; access to prevention and early detection programs, cancer education, and support services; a cancer registry that offers lifelong patient follow-up; and ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care. Receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to the full quality spectrum of comprehensive cancer care close to home.
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About Sacred Heart Hospital
Sacred Heart Hospital is an affiliate of the Hospital Sisters Health System. Since 1889 it has been meeting patient needs in western Wisconsin with the latest medical innovations and technology, together with a Franciscan whole-person healing tradition. For more information about
Sacred Heart Hospital, visit www.sacredhearteauclaire.org.
About Hospital Sisters Health System
Hospital Sisters Health System is a Roman Catholic health care mission founded to continue the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. Sponsored by the Hospital Sisters of St. Francis, HSHS provides state-of-the-art health care framed in traditional values taught by St. Francis and St. Clare of Assisi. It is dedicated to serving all people, including the poor and the needy, at each of its 13 Local Systems in Illinois (Belleville, Breese, Decatur, Effingham, Highland, Litchfield, Springfield and Streator) and in Wisconsin (Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Sheboygan and two in Green Bay). For more information about HSHS, visit www.hshs.org.