| PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Medical Center’s Cancer Program received a 2009 Outstanding Achievement Award from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons, one of only 82 programs in the U.S. honored with this national recognition.
Established in 2004, the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award is designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients, and was awarded to BMC following its recent three-year accreditation survey.
This is the second time that BMC’s program has been recognized with an Outstanding Achievement honor, the first awarded in 2006, meaning that BMC has received the honor each time it has been eligible since the award’s inception. BMC is one of only five programs so honored in New England for 2009.
“With dedicated physician leadership and a multidisciplinary team of caregivers, the BMC Cancer Program has again achieved a significant national honor, and this recognition reflects the high standard of care that we provide our patients,” said Diane Kelly, the hospital’s chief operating officer. “This level of achievement is attained only through a continual commitment to excellence, and our community can be proud of each and every member of this incredible team.”
Dr. Stephen Edge, chairman of the Commission on Cancer, noted in a letter to BMC that “the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award recognizes the significant commitment by the administration and personnel providing high-quality cancer care to your patients, and in meeting and exceeding the standards set by our CoC Accreditation Program. We at the commission are certainly proud of your achievements and applaud you for your outstanding efforts.”
The BMC Cancer program is led by Dr. Ethan Flynn, committee chair and coordinator of quality of cancer registry data; Dr. Michael DiSiena, cancer liaison physician; Dr. Spyridon Triantos, past committee chair; Dr. Rebecca Johnson, coordinator of cancer conferences; Michele DeLisle, RN, coordinator of quality improvement; Martha Talis-Floyd, RN, coordinator of community outreach; and Pam Manzolini, tumor registrar.
The Outstanding Achievement Award is granted to facilities that demonstrate a commendation level of compliance with six standards that represent five areas of cancer program activity, including cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, research, community outreach, and quality improvement. The level of compliance with the six standards is determined during an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor. In addition, facilities must receive a compliance rating for the remaining 30 cancer program standards.
Earlier this year, the CoC granted a three-year accreditation with commendation to the Berkshire Medical Center Cancer Program. This is the second time BMC’s program has achieved the three-year accreditation with commendation, which was also granted in 2006. |
