CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care Centers Earn National Accreditation From the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons

Facilities selected for providing highest quality of care and patient safety

LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 16, 2021) – The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), has granted Three-Year Accreditation to the CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care Centers in Lexington. To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. 

Because they are CoC-accredited cancer centers, CHI Saint Joseph Health - Cancer Care Centers take a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary partnership results in improved patient care. The cancer care centers’ affiliation with Cleveland Clinic Cancer Care provides another layer of care for patients in Kentucky, including easier access to second opinions from highly specialized cancer providers.

“The re-accreditation of our cancer care centers is another reflection of our incredible team who work both behind the scenes and on the front lines,” said Tony Houston, CEO, CHI Saint Joseph Health. “Our employees are passionate about the work they do, and are committed to our vision of a healthier future for all. Every day, they provide excellent care to patients who turn to our cancer program for healing.”

The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care Centers to improve the quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient centered services including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.  

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care Centers maintain a cancer registry and contribute data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society. This nationwide oncology outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world. Data on all types of cancer are tracked and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional, and state benchmark reports. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.  

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.7 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2018. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed patients with cancer. When cancer patients choose to seek care locally at a CoC-accredited cancer center, they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home. The CoC provides the public with information on the resources, services, and cancer treatment experience for each CoC-accredited cancer program through the CoC Hospital Locator at https://www.facs.org/search/cancer-programs.

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC 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.  Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons. For more information, visit: www.facs.org/cancer.

To learn more about the CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care Centers in Lexington, visit www.chisaintjosephhealth.org/lexington-cancer-care-locations.

About CHI Saint Joseph Health

CHI Saint Joseph Health, part of Catholic Health Initiatives, is one of the largest and most comprehensive health systems in the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 135 locations in 20 counties, including hospitals, physician groups, clinics, primary care centers, specialty institutes and home health agencies. In total, the health system serves patients in 35 counties statewide. CHI Saint Joseph Health is dedicated to building healthier communities by elevating patient care through an integrated physical and behavioral health delivery system. CHI Saint Joseph Health embodies a strong mission and faith-based heritage and works through local partnerships to expand access to care in the communities it serves.

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