Birmingham, AL – The cancer program at Trinity Medical Center has been granted a Three-Year Approval with Commendation from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

A facility receives a Three-Year Approval with Commendation following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach, and quality improvement).  In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for all other standards.

“Last year a commitment was made to provide the necessary resources to develop a comprehensive cancer program focused on creating an environment that facilitates collaboration amongst all disciplines involved in the care of a patient with cancer,” said Vicki Briggs, CEO of Trinity Medical Center.  “This involved the purchase of new equipment, the redesign of how a patient receives diagnosis, treatment and support and development of innovative resources like our recently opened Women’s Health Boutique that provides a comprehensive selection of products that are essential to cancer patients.  I am pleased that our survey by the Commission on Cancer validated that our efforts our working to the benefit of our patient.”

Established in 1922 by the American college of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving 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 40 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

The core functions of the CoC include setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 CoC standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state and local level.

Receiving care at a CoC-approved cancer program 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.

##