The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted a three-year approval to the cancer program at Potomac Hospital. This marks the third time Potomac’s cancer program has been accredited by the Commission on Cancer.
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1932, the Approvals Program sets standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to make sure they conform to those standards. Recognizing that cancer is a complex group of diseases, the program promotes consultation among surgeons, medical oncologist's, radiation oncologist's, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This team approach results in improved patient care.
Receiving care at a Commission on Cancer approved cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:
1) Quality care close to home.
2) Comprehensive care offering a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment.
3) A multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options available to
cancer patients.
4) Access to cancer-related information, education and support.
5) A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results,
and offers lifelong patient follow-up.
6) Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.
7) Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options.
Approval by the Commission on Cancer is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancer and to undergo a rigorous evaluation process and a review of its performance. Only one in four hospitals offering cancer treatment are approved programs. In order to maintain approval, facilities with approved cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.
Accredited cancer programs are assigned a specific category that details the cancer services available at that facility. Potomac Hospital is a designated Community Hospital Cancer Program (CHCP), which is defined as having between 100 and 649 cases annually and providing a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, but referral for a portion of the treatment is common. Also, the medical staff are board-certified in the major medical specialties and the facility provides a functional equivalent of a medical oncology unit and may participate in cancer-related clinical research.
The Cancer Center at Potomac Hospital offers a full spectrum of services close to home so that patients do not have to spend valuable time traveling for treatment. It is equipped to provide the three main treatment options - surgery, chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Potomac Radiation Oncology Center, a service of Potomac Hospital and Inova Health System, is equipped for state-of-the-art radiation treatment with a linear accelerator and a simulator for treatment planning.
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