American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
Recognizes Valley General

Monroe, WA – The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons has granted three-year approval with Commendation and an Outstanding Achievement award to the Cancer Program at Valley General Hospital. This was the hospital’s first attempt at accreditation and, “For a first time survey this is a major accomplishment,” states Theresa Hayden, VGH Cancer Registrar.

Similar to other accreditation processes, like the Joint Commission, the cancer program went thought an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the hospital demonstrated a Commendation level compliance with one or more standards that represent a full-scope cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, community outreach, and quality improvement). In addition the hospital received a compliance rating for all other standards.

The Cancer Program began at Valley General Hospital in 2002 after a community survey identified that residents in East Snohomish County would like to see cancer services at their community hospital. “When a patient has cancer and is going through treatment, they will feel tired, nauseas and sick, the last thing they want to be doing is driving an hour to and from the doctor,” states Brenda Rogers, Associate Administrator and Chief Nursing Executive.

The Approval Program set forth by the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Approval by the CoC is given only to those that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain the approval, the hospital will undergo an on-site approval every three years.

For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit their Web site at www.facs.org/cancer.