Henry Ford Cancer Institute Earns Distinct Level of Accreditation

DETROIT – The Henry Ford Cancer Institute, part of Henry Ford Health System, has earned the highest level of accreditation for its cancer services from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

The Cancer Institute achieved “Three-Year with Commendation Gold Level” accreditation, which is awarded to cancer programs that meet all 34 compliance standards, and achieve all seven commendations. Earning seven commendations is the most a program can receive, and means the Cancer Institute exceeded compliance standards for performance in those areas.

The seven commendations are for clinical research accrual, cancer registrar education, public reporting of outcomes, College of American Pathologists protocols, oncology nursing care, rapid quality reporting and data quality/accuracy.

The accreditation was awarded in the “integrated network cancer program” category, which recognizes Henry Ford’s comprehensive, unified team approach to care across all facilities. Henry Ford is one of only two programs in Michigan to achieve accreditation in this category.

• Cancer Institute facilities recognized as part of this accreditation status are:
• Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit Henry Ford Macomb Hospital in Clinton Township
• Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital in West Bloomfield
• Henry Ford Medical Center-Cottage in Grosse Pointe Farms
• Henry Ford Medical Center-Fairlane in Dearborn
• Henry Ford Medical Center-Columbus in Novi
• Henry Ford Cancer Institute-Brownstown

Additional Henry Ford facilities will become part of the next survey process, which will cover performance from 2016-2018.

“This distinct level of accreditation is a reflection of the superior care provided by all of our Cancer Institute physicians, nurses and staff,” says Steven Kalkanis, M.D., medical director of the Henry Ford Cancer Institute. “In our national and regional research, we have heard from consumers that they want care from providers who seamlessly communicate with each other, making sure they have access to the best treatment options, even if that treatment is at a different location. With our multiple, integrated locations, advances in Precision Medicine and construction of a destination cancer center in Detroit, we are truly putting each patient at the center of what we do.”

Construction on the new cancer center begins this spring. Later this year, the Cancer Institute, in partnership with the Syapse precision medicine software company, begins work on the oncology precision medicine initiative, with the goal of increasing access to the best cancer care for patients in the Midwest.

Accreditation is achieved following on-site surveys by experienced health care professionals during which facilities demonstrated full compliance. The Commission’s standards represent the full scope of the cancer program. To qualify for accreditation, cancer programs must successfully demonstrate compliance with a rigorous examination of 34 standards.

Approved programs must also show that surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists collaborate to provide quality patient care. In addition, centers must provide follow-up of patients after treatment, continuous quality review of management, a high level of support services, as well as end-of-life care.

“All of our staff and caregivers in our integrated cancer program are truly passionate about caring for our patients and families while meeting the needs of the communities that we serve,” says Robert Chapman, M.D., division head of Hematology/Oncology at the Cancer Institute and chair of the Henry Ford accreditation coordinating committee during the Commission on Care survey.

Since its inception in 1922, the Commission’s goal has been to reduce the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard setting and the monitoring of quality care. Beginning in the 1930s, the Commission established standards and a program of review and accreditation for cancer programs.

Currently, nearly 1,500 facilities have gained accreditation of their cancer programs. The standards continue to promote and support multidisciplinary care and improvements to quality overall. For more information, visit www.facs.org/cancer.

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About the Henry Ford Cancer Institute

The Henry Ford Cancer Institute is one of the largest cancer programs in Michigan, providing care at four hospitals and four outpatient facilities throughout southeast Michigan. Treatment for the most complex or rare cancers and the Institute’s extensive cancer research program is anchored by Henry Ford Hospital. For more information, visit www.henryford.com/cancer.

MEDIA CONTACT:

David Olejarz
David.Olejarz@hfhs.org
313.874.4094