Ingalls receives National Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons’ commission on cancer
Ingalls Memorial Hospital recently was presented with the 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons.
Ingalls is one of a select group of only 50 U.S. health care facilities with accredited cancer programs to receive this national honor for surveys performed in 2015, and represent approximately 12 percent of cancer programs surveyed during this period. The award acknowledges cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.
The purpose of the award is to raise awareness on the importance of providing quality cancer care at healthcare institutions throughout the U.S. In addition, it is intended to:
- Motivate other cancer programs to work toward improving their level of care.
- Facilitate dialogue and share best practices between award recipients and healthcare professionals at other cancer facilities.
- Encourage honorees to serve as quality-care resources to other cancer programs.
- Educate cancer patients on available quality-care options.
“Ingalls is proud to be recognized by the Commission on Cancer for its superior cancer program,” Kurt Johnson, President/CEO. “The Outstanding Achievement Award reflects the exceptional care that our entire cancer team, including physicians, nurses, therapists, navigators, dietitians, social workers and spiritual counselors, provides to cancer patients throughout their cancer journey.”
The CoC evaluated Ingalls on 34 program standards categorized within one of four cancer program activity areas: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, and quality improvement. The cancer program was further evaluated on seven commendation standards. To be eligible, all award recipients must have received commendation ratings in all seven commendation standards, in addition to receiving a compliance rating for each of the 27 other standards.
About Ingalls Cancer Care
With a comprehensive program that focuses on all aspects of cancer care, from prevention and early detection through treatment and rehabilitation, Ingalls has been treating cancer longer than any other south suburban hospital.
In fact, Ingalls built the first freestanding cancer center in Tinley Park and today offers the most advanced diagnostic and treatment capabilities such as image-guided radiation therapy, intensity-modulated radiation therapy, selective internal radiation therapy with yttrium-90 microspheres, chemoembolization, radiofrequency ablation, immunotherapy, digital mammography, minimally invasive da Vinci robotic surgical techniques and much more.
Ingalls Cancer Care also offers a robust clinical trials program with more than 50 clinical trials for nearly every cancer site in the body, ensuring that Ingalls patients are among the first to benefit from the newest cancer therapies, including medications not yet approved by the FDA.
In addition, Ingalls was the first to introduce a STAR-certified cancer survivorship program to help cancer survivors regain their strength during and after treatment. STAR addresses the unique needs that affect cancer survivors, including lymphedema, fatigue, musculoskeletal pain, joint stiffness, weakness, cognitive problems, balance problems and issues with communication, swallowing or eating, and helps them regain optimal functioning.
Over the last several years, Ingalls’ cancer program has received numerous accolades that reflect its commitment to outstanding cancer care, including accreditation by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC); citation as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence; and recognition by the Conquer Cancer Foundation of the American Society of Clinical Oncology for its comprehensive clinical trials program.
For a list of all cancer programs in the U.S. that received the CoC’s Outstanding Award during the second half of 2015 visit:
https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/accredited/about/outstanding/2015-part-2