image: Dr. Glen Weiss, M.D., M.B.A., is Director of Clinical Research and Medical Oncologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Western Regional Medical Center. view more
Credit: Photo courtesy of CTCA
(Goodyear, Arizona - September 28, 2015) - Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA) at Western Regional Medical Center (Western) in Goodyear, Arizona, announced that it has earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for Lung Cancer Certification.
The Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization's commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. CTCA® at Western is the first hospital in the Southwest and only the sixth hospital in the U.S. to receive this esteemed designation.
"Cancer Treatment Centers of America at Western Regional Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated a high level of care for patients with lung cancer," said Wendi J. Roberts, RN, executive director, Certification Programs, The Joint Commission. "We commend CTCA at Western for becoming a leader in lung cancer care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for lung cancer patients in its community."
CTCA at Western underwent a rigorous on-site review in August. A Joint Commission expert evaluated compliance with national disease-specific care standards as well as with lung cancer-specific requirements. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures were also assessed.
The Lung Center of Excellence at CTCA at Western is dedicated to providing state-of-the-art compassionate care to patients with lung cancer and to their families. CTCA at Western offers a multidisciplinary, interactive team approach for prevention and screening, while treating early and complex lung cancer through evidence based practice and research.
"We have consistently strived to provide the best care possible to our patients," stated Mark Kharoufeh, RN, BSN, Assistant Vice President of Oncology Patient Services, CTCA at Western. "This certification provides a third-party validation of our high-quality, consistent approach to patient care, treatment and services provided at our hospital."
Kharoufeh was the sponsor of the Lung Cancer Certification.
Physicians instrumental in the certification process also include:
- Lanceford Chong, MD, MPH, Medical Director of Radiation Oncology, CTCA at Western
Glen Weiss, MD, MBA, Director of Clinical Research & Medical Oncologist, CTCA at Western
Ashish Sangal, MD, Director of Medical Education & Medical Oncologist, CTCA at Western
Andrew Goldstein, MD, FACS, Director of Thoracic Surgery and Thoracic Surgeon, CTCA at Western
Sharad Chandrika, MD, Pulmonologist & Intensivist at CTCA, Western
CTCA at Western adheres to the National Comprehensive Cancer Network clinical practice guidelines and has a robust clinical research program. Currently, CTCA at Western has nine active clinical trials for advanced lung cancer.
Twelve lung cancer-specific peer-reviewed manuscripts have recently been published. Additionally, CTCA at Western physicians have participated in 18 lung cancer posters and oral presentations - at both national and international conferences - including for the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Earlier this month, Dr. Weiss presented at the 16th World Conference on Lung Cancer.
Established in 2002 and awarded for a two-year period, The Joint Commission's Disease-Specific Care Certification evaluates clinical programs across the continuum of care and addresses three core areas:
- Compliance with consensus-based national standards;
- Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and
- An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.
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For more information about CTCA, visit http://www.cancercenter.com, or call (800) 615-3055.
About Cancer Treatment Centers of America®
Cancer Treatment Centers of America® (CTCA), headquartered in Boca Raton, Fla., is a national network of five hospitals that serves adult patients who are fighting cancer. CTCA® offers an integrative approach to care that combines advancements in genomic testing and precision cancer treatment, surgery, radiation, immunotherapy and chemotherapy, with evidence-based complementary therapies that support patients physically and emotionally, enhancing their quality of life while reducing side effects both during and after treatment. CTCA serves patients from around the world at its hospitals in Atlanta, Chicago, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Tulsa. Consistently rated among U.S. hospitals that deliver the highest quality of care and patient experience, CTCA provides patients and their families with comprehensive information about their treatment options and encourages their active participation in treatment decisions. For more information, visit cancercenter.com, Facebook.com/cancercenter and Twitter.com/cancercenter.
The Joint Commission
Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. The Joint Commission accredits and certifies nearly 21,000 health care organizations and programs in the United States. An independent, nonprofit organization, The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standards-setting and accrediting body in health care. Learn more about The Joint Commission at http://www.jointcommission.org.