Palos Receives National Award for Cancer Care

Palos Community Hospital has been granted The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) Outstanding Achievement Award as a result of nation-wide surveys performed during 2011. Palos is one of a select group of 106 currently accredited and newly accredited cancer programs across the United States.

Established in 2004, the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. This award is granted to facilities that demonstrate a Commendation level of compliance with seven standards that represent six areas of cancer program activity: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical management, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

The level of compliance with the seven standards is determined during an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. In addition, facilities must receive a compliance rating for the remaining 29 cancer program standards.

The CoC’s Accreditation Program sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is only given to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.

Palos Community Hospital provides care and services for patients experiencing various stages of cancer, from diagnosis through surgical and chemotherapeutic treatment. Palos also provides short-stay service (eight hours or less) for patients in need of cancer related intravenous or treatment modalities.Nursing care is individualized with evaluation and pain relief constituting a major focus.