Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford earns accreditation

The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, has granted a new three-year accreditation with commendation to the cancer program at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford.

To earn accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered care. The CoC care standards include a review of processes and outcomes with a focus on the full continuum of care, from prevention to survivorship and end of life, while also addressing quality of life.

“We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in advancing clinical programs and research in the field of cancer care,” said Eric Winer, MD, Yale Cancer Center director and Smilow Cancer Hospital president and physician-in-chief. “This accreditation with commendation is an honor that acknowledges the commitment and innovative spirit that the Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center team brings to our clinical programs every day.”

Details the CoC cited during its Smilow Waterford review included a high number of nurses certified in oncology care, excellence in genetic counseling, access to rehabilitative services for conditions such as lymphedema, nutritional counseling services and access to palliative care.

The CoC report lauded Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford: “The collegiality, coordination, and commitment to quality of the oncology staff, cancer committee members, hospital leadership and Yale New Haven representatives were consistently evident during the site review process. The synergy of this shared mission and delivery of high-quality cancer services in alignment with the CoC Standards to their community is impressive.”