BRUNSWICK, Georgia: Feb. 29, 2012–The Commission on Cancer (CoC)
of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) has granted a Three-Year Accreditation
with Commendation to the cancer care programs at Southeast Georgia Health System.
“Although applying for and maintaining a CoC accreditation is strictly
voluntary, we are dedicated to going beyond what is expected to provide
our patients with the best possible care,” says Michelle P. Morris,
assistant vice president who oversees the Health System’s cancer
care programs. “Getting this accreditation assures patients and
their families that they are receiving quality care from top-notch medical
professionals in a caring, comfortable environment in our own community.”
The Health System has two Cancer Care Centers—one on the Brunswick
Campus and the newly opened Center on the Camden Campus in St. Marys.
The latest advanced diagnostic, treatment and follow-up options are available
at both locations, while the Brunswick Campus also offers the non-invasive
CyberKnife® treatment program.
“Commission on Cancer accreditation recognizes a facility’s
commitment to their community and to patients with cancer who are seen
in their facility,” says surgeon Daniel P. McKellar, M.D., FACS,
chair, accreditation committee.
eceiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient
has access to:
- comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
- a multi-specialty team approach to the best treatment options
- information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
- access to cancer-related information, education and support
- a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment
results and offers life-long patient follow-up
- quality care close to home
“Thanks to the Herculean efforts of Tiffany Brock, CTR, cancer registry
coordinator, and Kenyon Meadows, M.D., our appointed cancer liaison physician,
an excellent Quality & Outcomes Study of Analytic Non Small Cell Lung
Cancer Cases seen in our organization from 2005 to 2010 was prepared and
submitted to the accrediting body,” says Morris. “Following
that submission and our on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor, we
were informed that we were selected for this honor.
There are currently 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the United
States and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals.
This 25 percent of hospitals diagnose and/or treat 71 percent of the estimated
1.6 million cases of newly diagnosed cancer patients each year. In addition,
a national network of more than 1,600 volunteer cancer liaison physicians
provides leadership and support to the accreditation program and other
CoC activities and these local facilities.
To learn more about the Southeast Georgia Health System’s cancer
care programs, call 912-466-5100 in Brunswick and 912-576-6320 in Camden County.