Story Published:
May 12, 2010 at 7:42 AM CST
Story Updated:
May 12, 2010 at 8:14 AM CST
The This award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Only 18% of hospitals surveyed in 2009 received this award. The award represents this facility's dedication to leadership, data management, research, community activities, and quality improvement.
Just recently the medical center’s Cancer Program was award a three-year accreditation with commendation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor who evaluates how well the overall cancer care program meets the 36 standards. The Commission on Cancer 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 monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is granted to facilities like Cookeville Regional that demonstrate a commendation level of compliance with six standards that represent five areas of cancer program activity (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, research, community outreach and quality improvement). In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for the remaining 30 standards. For more information about the Commission on Cancer, click here.
The Cancer Center at Cookeville Regional, located in the newly completed North Patient Tower. is now one of only two cancer treatment centers in Tennessee to offer Tomotherapy – one of the world’s most advanced cancer treatment systems that allows unparalleled precision in delivering radiation therapy, resulting in minimal damage to surrounding tissue.
Almost triple the size of its former location, the new Cancer Center offers spacious treatment areas where attention to detail has resulted in a warm, comfortable environment with an abundance of natural light. In addition, the new Center offers a patient education area with Internet access, a “healing garden”, a survivor’s boutique offering products helpful in coping with cancer as well as a dedicated entrance and parking area.
The Cancer Center is an affiliate of the Southwest Oncology Group, or S.W.O.G., via the University of Tennessee Health Care Systems. S.W.O.G. is one of the largest cancer clinical trials cooperative groups in the United States. Becoming an active member of this group allows the Center to offer many more clinical trials to patients in the Upper Cumberland region. For more information about the Cancer Center, visit the hospital website by clicking here.
