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August 10, 2012

Montefiore among Elite Group in U.S. To Receive CoC’s Outstanding Achievement Award

NEW YORK CITY, NY (August 10, 2012) – The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted its Outstanding Achievement Award to Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care in New York City. The Center is among a select group of 106 cancer programs across the U.S. to receive this recognition and has also been granted Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation by the CoC.

Pictured with the CoC’s Outstanding Achievement Award are Steven Libutti, MD, Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care (right); Richard Smith, MD, Director, Head and Neck Cancer Program; and Linda Fisher, Director, Cancer Registry.

“We are very proud to receive this important seal of approval from the Commission on Cancer,” said Steven K. Libutti, MD, Vice Chairman of Surgery and Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Cancer Care. “Cancer treatment spans the breadth and depth of Montefiore, including our three adult campuses and our children’s hospital. It takes an extraordinary team to deliver the high level of multidisciplinary, comprehensive care that is provided here. The CoC’s recognitionconfirms the quality of care and dedication that we provide every day for our patients.” 

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. The 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 program activities examined during the Commission on Cancer survey process touch on all facets of cancer care. The knowledge that our program not only meets but exceeds commission standards speaks to our team’s expertise at every level, “ said Richard V. Smith, MD, Vice Chairman, Otorhinolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Director of the Head and Neck Cancer Program, and Chairman of Montefiore’s Cancer Committee. “We are proud to receive this affirmation, and to have the ability to provide our patients with the high quality care they deserve.”

Outstanding Achievement Awards Earned by 106 Cancer Programs in U.S. 

The 106 programs that received the Outstanding Achievement Award represent approximately 22 percent of programs surveyed during 2011. A majority of recipients are community-based facilities; however, teaching hospitals, NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, VA hospitals and Network Cancer Programs also received the award.

The Accreditation Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation by the CoC is given only to the 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.

There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

For more information about the Commission on Cancer, visit www.facs.org/cancer/index.html