The cancer program at Olympic Medical Cancer Center in Sequim has received a three-year approval with commendation from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer.
The cancer center received the honor upon demonstration of compliance with standards that represent the full scope of Olympic Medical’s local cancer program.
These standards include cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.
The Commission on Cancer requires programs receiving its approval to implement quality improvement initiatives that promote the delivery of quality, multidisciplinary cancer care and lead to ongoing educational interventions with local providers.
Deby King, interim director of Olympic Medical Cancer Center, said, "Olympic Medical Cancer Center has a multidisciplinary approach to cancer treatment and offers vital cancer services at the Thomas Family Cancer Center facility in Sequim – including radiation oncology, medical oncology, pharmacy, nutrition, education and support, and patient navigator services.
"We are proud the Commission on Cancer recognized the quality care patients receive from our staff by providing us with this commendation."
Receiving care at a Commission on Cancer-approved cancer program such as the one at Olympic Medical Cancer Center ensures a patient has access to:
• Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment;
• A multispecialty, team-based 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;
• Quality care close to home.
Cancer patient data is reported by each Commission on Cancer-approved cancer program to the commission’s national cancer database, which is a cooperative program between the Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society.
This database contains patient demographics, tumor characteristics and treatment and outcome information for more than 18 million cancer patients diagnosed and treated at hospital cancer programs in the United States between 1985 and 2004.
This data is used to monitor and improve the quality of patient care delivered in the approved cancer programs.
The Commission on Cancer requires programs receiving its approval to implement quality improvement initiatives that promote the delivery of quality, multidisciplinary cancer care and lead to ongoing educational interventions with local providers.
Olympic Medical Center is a comprehensive health care provider for more than 70,000 residents of Clallam County.
It provides inpatient services at its 126-bed acute care facility, outpatient services, including cardiac, imaging, rehabilitation therapy, laboratory, sleep medicine, home health and comprehensive cancer care services at locations throughout the region.
