Members of Regional Hospital of Scranton Cancer Committee, seated from left: Glen Digwood, D.O.; Vee Pauli, Charles Bannon, M.D.; Harmar Brereton, M.D.; Lisa Thomas, M.D.; and Leah Nawrocki. Standing: Michael Plishka, Sherri Collins, Margaret Glancey, Dana Maida, Mercita Pasquariello, Oliver Morgan, Ph.D.; Martin Hyzinski, M.D.; Joseph Bannon, M.D.; Suman Patel, M.D.; Patricia Lawless; Husam Hamati, M.D.; Marilyn White; Lisa Wilkins; and Anne Marie Sysko.

Regional Hospital of Scranton Awarded Outstanding Achievement for Cancer Program

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted its Outstanding Achievement Award to Regional Hospital of Scranton as a result of surveys performed in 2011.

Regional Hospital of Scranton is one of 106 currently accredited and newly accredited cancer programs across the United States that have been recognized. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, representing 30 percent of all hospitals. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year. The full list of award recipients is available online at www.facs.org/cancer/coc.outstandingachievement2011list.html.

Established in 2004, the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. The award is granted to facilities that demonstrate a commendation level of compliance with seven standards representing six areas of cancer program activity. They are cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical management, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

The level of compliance with the seven standards is determined during an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. In addition, facilities must receive a compliance rating for the remaining 29 cancer program standards. One hundred six programs, including Regional’s, represent approximately 22 percent of programs surveyed during 2011. A majority of recipients are community-based facilities; however, teaching hospitals, NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, VA hospitals and Network Cancer Programs also received the award.

Lisa Thomas, M.D., co-chair of Regional’s cancer committee and an oncologist at
Hematology/Oncology Associates of NEPA says Regional’s physicians are determined to continue to provide the finest quality of care to all of its patients. “This award serves as a tribute to all the dedicated doctors, surgeons, radiologists, nurses and staff who work so diligently with us to offer high standards of cancer treatment to our community,” says Dr. Thomas.

Regional Hospital of Scranton was a pioneer in developing oncology services in the 1960s. Today, Regional’s collaboration with a host of northeast Pennsylvania  organizations and caregivers helps provide advanced cancer treatment and research for patients in the region.

Harmar D. Brereton, M.D., chairman of Regional’s Cancer Committee and founding partner of Northeast Radiation Oncology Center (NROC), Dunmore, and Radiation Medicine Associates of Scranton (RAMAS) says “This honor reflects the cooperation of all physicians and health givers who participate in the cancer program.”

The Accreditation Program, a component of the CoC, sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs to ensure they conform to those standards.

Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing a high level of quality cancer care. Facilities must also undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain accreditation, facilities with CoC-accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years.

As the physician representative to the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, Regional Chief of Surgery Joseph P. Bannon, M.D., of Delta Medix, says he is very proud that Regional Hospital of Scranton has again been recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award. “This accomplishment is the result of an enormous amount of work and dedication of many people at Regional Hospital of Scranton and in our community,” Dr. Bannon explains. “It highlights our mission to provide a high level of coordinated, compassionate cancer care to the people of NEPA, and acknowledges the unique resources that we provide to the people in our area who have been afflicted with cancer.”

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the Commisssion on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.

The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredsited cancer program through the CoC Hospital Locator at www.facs.org/cancerprogram/index.html and through the American Cancer Society’s National Cancer Information Center at 1.800.ACS.2345.

For nearly 100 years, Regional Hospital of Scranton, an affiliate of Commonwealth Health, has been proud to serve the residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Accredited by the Joint Commission, Regional Hospital is licensed for 198 hospital beds and has a network of more than 400 physicians representing a wide spectrum of specialties. The hospital has been recognized nationally for quality and in 2012 was named one America’s Top 50 Hospitals by HealthGrades, a national accrediting organization. This is the sixth consecutive year Regional has received this award. In addition, Regional received recognition in 12 specialty areas. In 2011Regional was named Best Hospital in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Area by U.S. News and World Reports magazine and to Becker’s Hospital Review list of the leading 100 hospitals in the United States.