National Commission on Cancer Approves Marin Cancer Institute;
Recognizes Program with Nine out of Nine Possible Commendations and awards a 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons has awarded three-year approval status and nine out of nine possible commendations to the Marin Cancer Institute. The Marin Cancer Institute has also been awarded a 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award by the nationally recognized American College of Surgeons, making it the only Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program in the Bay Area to be given the prestigious honor this year. The Institute is the community cancer program operated by Marin General Hospital since 1992.
A nationally recognized organization that surveys cancer programs, the CoC calls approval a way to ensure that patients will receive comprehensive care, a team approach to best-treatment options, information about ongoing clinical trials, and most importantly quality care close to home.
Only about 25 percent of the country’s 1,500 cancer programs are presently approved by the CoC.
"CoC approval acknowledges that a cancer program has the highest quality standards, as well as expertly trained staff and a caring and supporting environment,” said Lloyd Miyawaki, MD, MCI Medical Director. "All of these factors contribute to positive clinical outcomes and to the physical and emotional well-being of the patient and family."
Specifically, the CoC recognized the Marin Cancer Institute with nine commendations in the following areas:
- Cancer Committee Leadership – For conducting clinically meaningful analysis of patient diagnosis, treatment and outcomes and disseminating this data to medical staff and administration on a regular basis.
- Cancer Data Management and Cancer Registry Operations (two commendations)
- Clinical Management – Two commendations: The first for properly staging (determining the extent and progression of) cancers. Benefits include allowing physicians to determine appropriate treatment, estimate prognosis and evaluate treatment results. The second for following patient management and treatment guidelines that promote an organized approach to providing quality care to patients.
- Research – For helping to advance clinical research by accruing (enrolling) four percent or more of patients in cancer-related clinical trials.
- Community Outreach – For holding prevention and/or early detection programs for the public. These have included free prostate cancer and skin cancer screenings.
- Professional Education and Staff Support – For providing credentialed cancer registry staff (cancer data collection and analysis specialists) the opportunity to participate in national cancer-related educational programs. Topics include advances in cancer diagnosis and treatment, changes in cancer program standards and changes to data collection.
- Quality Improvement – For 11 improvements that directly affected patient care: reducing mammography wait times; assessing and improving mammography screening rates; establishing specific breast and prostate cancer programs; developing "Nurse Navigator" staff positions; establishing breast and prostate cancer patient case conferences; establishing outpatient standards for pain management; monitoring physician compliance of cancer staging; and creating a translation program for non-English-speaking patients.
The CoC's approval followed an all-day session at the Institute May 15. Two physician surveyors of the CoC met with about 40 Marin Cancer Institute team members, including MCI’s Cancer Committee.
According to the Commission, "Approval by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance."
Chuck Prosper, CAO of Marin General Hospital, said, "We know that the Marin Cancer Institute is one of the finest programs of its kind, where the very latest in diagnostic tools and treatment options are combined with a caring, personal approach. The CoC's approval is an unbiased, third-party confirmation of this quality – a mark of excellence. It also underscores the professionalism and dedication of all the physicians, staff and volunteers who care for our cancer patients."
The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations in the field of cancer dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through the setting of standards, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.
The Marin Cancer Institute is a leader in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation, supportive care and follow-up of all forms of cancer in Marin County. Complementary therapies are also offered. Two of the Institute’s signature programs are its Breast Health Program and Prostate / Genitourinary Cancer Program. Patients come from throughout the Bay Area and the country.
Community Recognition
MCI physicians and staff have received "Honor Thy Healer" awards from Marin Breast Cancer Watch (now called Zero Breast Cancer).
| 2008 Bobbie Head, MD, PhD, Medical Oncologist | ||
| 2007 Cindi Cantril, RN, OCN, MPH, MCI Breast Health Program Coordinator, Nurse Navigator | ||
| 2005 Lloyd Miyawaki, MD, MCI Medical Director | ||
| 2003 Alison Smith, MD, MCI Breast Health Program Medical Director | ||
| 2001 Francine Halberg, MD, MCI Radiation Oncologist | ||
| 2000 Sandy Truex, RN, MCI Breast Health Educator and Advocate |
Other Awards
| 2005 Jennifer Lucas, MD, MCI Medical Oncologist. SF Bay Area Lymphoma Research Foundation, Rosetta Medical Award |