Northside Hospital Awarded National Lung Cancer Certification

SANDY SPRINGS, GA — Northside Hospital in Sandy Springs has earned The Joint Commission’s (TJC) Gold Seal of Approval® for Lung Cancer Disease-Specific Care Certification for a second consecutive survey.

Dr. Howard Silverboard, pulmonologist and physician lead for Northside's Lung Cancer DSC Program, said the hospital is one of five hospitals in the country that's received The Joint Commission Disease-Specific Care Certification for lung cancer. He also said it's the only program that focuses on thoracic surgical care.

“This recognition is a remarkable testament to the hard work and commitment of the entire lung cancer team, consisting of surgeons, pulmonologists, specialized nursing care, nurse navigators, respiratory therapists and rehabilitation therapists," Dr. Silverboard added.

Lung cancer is, by far, the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women, according to the American Cancer Society. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

“The vast majority of patients don’t show up to see a doctor until the cancer is advanced stage and there’s significantly limited amounts of things we can do at that point,” Dr. Silverboard added. “Screening for early detection is key in improving the odds in the fight against lung cancer.”

Northside Hospital Cancer Institute offers a comprehensive continuum of lung cancer care – from low-dose computer tomography lung cancer screening and other diagnostic procedures to detect lung cancer to a full range of treatment options including minimally invasive robotic and advanced technologies that yield some of the most successful results in the country.

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Northside also embraces molecular-based treatment, which targets individual genetic mutations in order to spare healthy cells and reduce side effects, and provides a wide array of supportive care services.

The TJC Gold Seal of Approval® is a symbol of quality that reflects an organization’s commitment to providing safe and effective patient care. Northside remains the first hospital in Georgia to receive the award for lung cancer.

Northside received its first two-year lung cancer DSC Certification after undergoing a voluntary and rigorous on-site evaluation in June 2016 and demonstrating compliance with nationally developed standards for lung cancer care. Clinical practice guidelines and performance measures also were assessed. The hospital was recertified in June 2018.

For more information about lung care at Northside Hospital Cancer Institute, visit its website.

Image via Northside Hospital