Southeastern Med’s Cancer Program Granted Re-Accreditation

CAMBRIDGE, Ohio, Oct. 6, 2010 – The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted a three-year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at Southeastern Med.
Southeastern Med received the three-year Accreditation with Commendation following an onsite evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the medical center demonstrated a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program. The evaluation involved cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement.

“This Accreditation is a huge honor for the medical center and an excellent asset for local cancer patients and their families,” said Michael Sarap, M.D., surgeon with Southeastern Ohio Physicians, Inc. and Southeastern Med medical staff member. ”This award was attained only because of the dedication and teamwork of Southeastern Med physicians and associates caring for cancer patients. CoC Accreditation is the national standard by which the quality of cancer care is measured. Receiving a Commendation implies that the staff at Southeastern Med has gone above and beyond the usual requirements for Accreditation.”

Receiving care at a CoC-approved center cancer program, such as Southeastern Med, ensures that a patient will have access to:

• Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the art services and equipment
• A multi-specialty, 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
• And most importantly, quality care close to home

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improve survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 42 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

The Accreditation Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities 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 accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.

With Dr. Michael Sarap serving as the CoC Physician Liaison and chairman of Southeastern Med‟s Cancer Program and Becky Wheeler leading the program as a Certified Tumor Registrar, Southeastern Med‟s Cancer Program has achieved national recognition for its efforts involving cancer education and screenings.
In 2006 and 2009, the CoC awarded Dr. Sarap with the National Cancer Liaison Physician Outstanding Performance Award for his work with the Southeastern Med‟s Cancer Program.

In 2006, Southeastern Med and the Tina Kiser Colorectal Cancer Coalition launched an aggressive colorectal cancer awareness campaign with the theme “Face the „BEAR‟ Facts…Colon Screenings Save Lives!” in an effort to educate community members about colorectal cancer and the effectiveness of screening procedures. Year round, Southeastern Med encourages those 50 and older to get screened for colorectal cancer. The medical center provides free stool screening kits to test for blood in the privacy in of your own home. Southeastern Med also offers free colonoscopies to those who are uninsured or underinsured.

Through grants from the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF) and the Columbus Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the medical center provides free or reduced-cost mammograms for area women who are uninsured or underinsured, age 35 and older, and earn between 250-300 percent of the poverty level. The program also reaches women younger than 35 years of age with a family history of breast cancer.
To learn more about Southeastern Med‟s Screening Mammogram Program or to learn if you qualify for a screening mammogram, call 740-435-2500. To receive more information about colorectal cancer, a free screening kit or to find out if you qualify for a free colonoscopy, call Becky Wheeler, Cancer Registry at Southeastern Med, at 740-439-8156.