Marin Cancer Institute Receives Gold Level Accreditation From American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer

GREENBRAE, CA — The Marin Cancer Institute at Marin General Hospital received an Accreditation with Commendation, the highest level of recognition from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC). In exceeding all seven standards of care considered for special commendation, Marin Cancer Institute has earned Gold level designation, a qualification for the CoC’s Outstanding Achievement award (winners will be announced in early 2015). In addition, the Marin Cancer Institute fulfilled all 27 additional standards required for Comprehensive Community Cancer Programs.

“To earn this Gold level designation is a testament to the outstanding care and teamwork by the staff and physicians at the Marin Cancer Institute,” says Lloyd Miyawaki, MD, MPH. “It demonstrates that right here in Marin County, at Marin General Hospital, we are providing a level of care and expertise on par with that of the finest hospitals in the country.”

Accreditation by the CoC sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews them to ensure they conform to those standards. Accreditation is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and which undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. To maintain their accreditation, facilities must undergo an onsite review every three years.

Only approximately 30 percent of all hospitals have accredited cancer programs. These programs care for more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.

Marin General Hospital’s cancer program has been continuously accredited since 1985. Marin Cancer Institute earned the Outstanding Achievement Award with its past 2 accreditations in 2008 and 2011. An award only earned by an elite group of accredited cancer programs.

About the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), 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.

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