Kaiser Medical Centers Earn Prestigious Cancer Accreditation

Kaiser Permanente's cancer programs in San Leandro and Fremont have received three-year accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC) and will be designated as Comprehensive Community Cancer Programs. The San Leandro Medical Center achieved Bronze Level accreditation with three commendations, and the Fremont Medical Center achieved Silver Level accreditation with four commendations, both with no contingencies.

The Commission on Cancer is dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. To earn CoC accreditation, hospital cancer programs must meet 34 quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care.

CoC-accredited cancer centers must also demonstrate that they 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.

When patients receive care at a CoC-accredited 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.

"This accreditation follows years of dedication and hard work by a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and staff collaborating to provide the best patient experience," said Akhil Wadhera, MD, assistant physician-in-chief and chair, Commission on Cancer, for Kaiser Permanente in Southern Alameda County. "Facing a cancer diagnosis is difficult. With this accreditation and commendations, our patients and their families can be assured that not only are they receiving the best care, but they have access to resources that improve quality of life for patients through their treatment and beyond."

"The criteria used by the Commission on Cancer highlights what Kaiser Permanente does best – teamwork. Across disciplines, roles, and responsibilities, our professionals do what’s best for our members, mind, body and spirit," said Eric Cain, MD, physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente in Fremont.

"It was a significant collaboration to earn this recognition and I congratulate all of our caregivers for their achievements," said Kapil Dhingra, MD, physician-in-chief at Kaiser Permanente in San Leandro.

San Leandro and Fremont join 11 other Kaiser Permanente Northern California medical centers that have earned CoC accreditation, including Antioch, Oakland, Roseville, Sacramento, Santa Clara, San Francisco, San Jose, South Sacramento, Vacaville, Vallejo, and Walnut Creek.

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