Cancer Services Receives Approval

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted three-year approval with commendation to Intermountain Cancer Services at Intermountain Medical Center, LDS Hospital, and Alta View Hospital. The three hospitals make up the only network cancer program recognized by the Commission on Cancer in Utah.

Intermountain Cancer Services in the Salt Lake area received the accreditation and commendation following an on-site evaluation by a physician and certified tumor registrar surveyor team. During the evaluation, the program demonstrated its compliance with standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program (such as cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, high-quality clinical services, an active research program, community outreach, and quality improvement).

Approval from the Commission on Cancer ensures that Intermountain Cancer Services gives patients and the community:

• Comprehensive care, including a complete range of state-of-the-art services and equipment.
• A team approach to coordinate the best available treatment options.
• Information about ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatment options.
• Access to prevention and early detection programs, cancer education, and support services.
• A cancer registry that offers lifelong patient follow-up.
• Ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care.

Most importantly, approval from the Commission on Cancer means Intermountain Cancer Services in the Salt Lake area is able to provide high-quality cancer care, close to home.

“We’re very excited to receive this accreditation for our cancer programs in the Salt Lake area,” says Barbara Ohm, operations officer over oncology services for Intermountain Healthcare’s hospitals in Salt Lake. “Cancer patients can come to our hospitals knowing that our caring and highly-trained cancer specialists are able to provide them with the best cancer care possible anywhere in the state.”

Commission on Cancer approval is nationally recognized by organizations, such as the:

• Joint Commission
• American Cancer Society
• Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
• National Cancer Institute, among others

Approved programs participate in the National Cancer Data Base and can access comparative benchmark reports that enable approved programs to compare their quality of care and improve performance based on nationally-recognized quality measures and standards of care.

The Commission on Cancer is a association 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.