Moore Regional’s Cancer Care Program Earns National Recognition

PINEHURST – The accredited cancer treatment program at FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital has received its third consecutive Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).

Only 106 currently accredited and newly accredited cancer programs across the United States received an Outstanding Achievement Award as a result of surveys performed during 2011. Only 13 facilities – and just one other in North Carolina – have been recognized for three consecutive surveys.

According to the medical director of the FirstHealth Outpatient Cancer Center at Moore Regional, the achievement reflects a program-wide commitment to superior patient care.

“Meeting ACoS standards means that we provide a full spectrum of services for the cancer patient, from diagnosis through treatment and on to survivorship, that includes supportive services along the way,” says Ellen Willard, M.D. “Choosing to meet the Outstanding Achievement standards reflects a commitment to quality that extends well beyond meeting the basic requirements.” 

Established in 2004, the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality patient care. The award goes to facilities that demonstrate a commendation level of compliance with seven standards that represent the following areas of cancer program activity: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical management, research, community outreach and quality improvement. The level of compliance is determined during an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor.

Facilities must also receive a compliance rating for the remaining 29 cancer program standards.

“Gaining the Outstanding Achievement recognition from the American College of Surgeons oncology group is high praise for our cancer program,” says Amelia Jeyapalan, M.D., a general surgeon with Pinehurst Surgical and the general surgery representative on FirstHealth’s Cancer Committee. “This shows that we as physicians, nurses and hospital system are truly committed to providing state-of-the-art care for our cancer patients – starting with their diagnosis and onward into their survivorship.”

The 106 programs receiving the OAA recognition represent about 22 percent of the 489 programs surveyed last year. Most are community-based facilities, although teaching hospitals, National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, VA hospitals and Network Cancer programs also received the award.

Moore Regional’s cancer treatment program received its first CoC accreditation in 1995, and it was reaccredited in 1999, 2002, 2005 and 2008. The program received its first OAA in 2006, the first year it qualified for the recognition.

“It takes coordinated effort and much cooperation among a diverse group of health care professionals and staff as well as support from our Moore Regional administration just to meet the ACoS standards,” says Jeffrey Acker, M.D., a radiation oncologist and medical director of the Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Canter. “Meeting the criteria for the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award shows the pride and dedication that everyone has in our cancer care program and their willingness to put forth the extra effort to attain this level of recognition. We are committed to continue to strive to be the best at what we do.”

For more information on the cancer programs offered by FirstHealth of the Carolinas, call (800) 213-3284 toll-free.