Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas’ Oncology Program Receives Top Accreditation

DALLAS, TX–(EMWNews – August 21, 2008) – Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas has received the

highest accreditation for comprehensive cancer programs from the American

College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.

Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas received commendations in all nine

categories for a community hospital to be designated an approved cancer

center by the commission. The hospital is eligible for the commission’s

Outstanding Achievement award, which will be announced in the first quarter

of 2009.

In 2005, Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas was first named an approved cancer

program by the commission and received the Outstanding Achievement award

that year — one of only two centers in Texas to receive the honor.

To qualify as an approved cancer center, a hospital must treat a high

number of cancer patients each year, provide a full range of diagnostic and

treatment services, and participate in clinical research. The hospital must

also provide a cancer registry that follows patients from diagnosis through

treatment and offers lifelong follow-up. Presbyterian exceeded the criteria

in all categories.

“It is quite an honor to receive this recognition because only institutions

that provide the highest quality of cancer care receive the designation,”

said Mark H. Merrill, president of Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas. “In

fact, only one in four hospitals that treat cancer patients has approved

cancer programs, and we remain a part of this elite group.”

Receiving accreditation involves meeting a complex set of requirements for

a hospital’s oncology services, said Dr. Pat Fulgham, surgical director of

oncology. “Receiving this designation validates Presbyterian Hospital of

Dallas’ commitment to clinical excellence and compassionate,

patient-centered care,” he said.

The application process, which included a site visit, requires that

hospitals submit three years of data to demonstrate that the program meets

the commission’s rigorous standards for providing comprehensive care for

cancer patients, including state-of-the-art equipment and services, and

maintaining a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care.

The patient data collected by certified tumor registrars at Presbyterian

Hospital of Dallas is provided to researchers and organizations such as the

American Cancer Society, National Cancer Institute and Centers for Disease

Control to evaluate quality of care, outcomes, and screening and prevention

programs.