Reid's Cancer program achieves coveted accreditation for seventh time in a row

The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer recently accredited Reid’s cancer program for the seventh time in a row. This three-year accreditation recognizes hospitals that provide comprehensive, high-quality, multidisciplinary care—and have the survival rates to prove it.

“The accreditation reflects Reid Hospital’s strong commitment to cancer care,” said Thomas Grayson, M.D., who provided leadership for the accreditation process at Reid, along with fellow surgeon Joshua French, M.D. “Our program was evaluated not only for its services, but survival rates and other clinical measures. Accreditation is difficult—only about a third of hospitals in the United States achieve this distinction.”

The extensive, months-long accreditation process involved submitting data and other documentation and hosting a site visit. During the site visit, evaluators attended a care conference, a twice-monthly meeting in which physicians from multiple specialties discuss specific cases to make sure that patients are receiving comprehensive, well-coordinated care.

Reid first received the accreditation in 1990. Two years ago, the hospital opened Reid Cancer Center, a 6,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that brings all of the hospital’s outpatient cancer services under one roof. In all, more than 300 Reid health care professionals serve cancer patients and their families. The medical staff includes four experienced oncologists (cancer specialists), who work closely with surgeons, radiation therapists and others to provide each patient’s care. Specialty trained nurses called “cancer navigators” help patients and families by explaining the treatment process and answering questions.

“The accreditation process is complex and time consuming, and it involves a team effort from many people at the Reid Cancer Center,” Dr. French said. “This accreditation is a reflection of Reid’s dedication to providing the highest quality of cancer care possible for our community.”