Marin Cancer Institute Receives Outstanding Achievement Award from American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer
One of only four programs in the state, only program in Northern California to receive award
GREENBRAE, CA — The Marin Cancer Institute at Marin General Hospital announces that it is once again among an elite group of cancer programs in the United States that have earned an Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC). The hospital’s cancer program underwent a rigorous reaccreditation survey in May 2014 after which it received Gold Level designation, the highest level of accreditation. In 2014, seventy-five programs out of the more than 1500 surveyed across the country received Gold Level designation, which qualified them for the Outstanding Achievement Award; the CoC announced the results in March 2015.
The Marin Cancer Institute is one of only four cancer programs in California, and the only one in Northern California to earn the award. This is the third consecutive time the cancer program has received this award, earning the distinction in 2008, 2011 and now in 2014.
Outstanding Achievement Award winners represent approximately 15% of the programs surveyed in 2014 and represent the “best of the best” according to David McKellar, MD, chair of the CoC. “Each of these facilities is not just meeting nationally recognized standards for the delivery of quality cancer care, they are exceeding them.”
Accreditation by the CoC sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs and reviews the programs 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.
In addition to exceeding the seven standards of care required for an Accreditation with Commendation, the Marin Cancer Institute fulfilled all 27 additional standards required for a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program.
“This national recognition not only demonstrates the high level of cancer care we deliver here at the Marin Cancer Institute, it testifies to the special work done here every day by our staff and physicians for patients, families and our community,” says Lloyd Miyawaki, MD, MPH, chair of Marin General Hospital’s Cancer Committee.
The CoC accredited cancer programs in the U.S and Puerto Rico represent approximately 30 percent of all hospitals. The accredited programs diagnose and/or
treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients each year.
Marin General Hospital’s cancer program has been continuously accredited since 1985.
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.
