Fawcett’s Cancer Program Honored by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons

Port Charlotte, FL – The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) recently granted a Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation to the Cancer Program at Fawcett Memorial Hospital.  Now, the hospital has received notification that the CoC’s Program Review Subcommittee awarded Fawcett its 2009 New Program Outstanding Achievement Award.  The notification from M. Asa Cater, CTR, Manager, Accreditation and Standards for the ACoS CoC states, “Congratulations on this remarkable achievement at initial survey!”

A facility receives the New Program OAA following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrates a Commendation level of compliance with six standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program within five areas of program activities (cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, research, community outreach, and quality improvement).  In addition a facility receives a compliance rating for the remaining 30 standards.

“As Chair of the Cancer Committee, I am especially proud of Fawcett's achievement and recognition for its outstanding cancer care,” said Eric Lubiner, D.O. “As a medical oncologist, I am happy to have a facility where my patients will receive quality cancer care.” 

Fawcett received its Accreditation with Commendation in November, 2009, and is the only hospital in Charlotte County to bear this distinction.  The Outstanding Achievement Award further distinguishes Fawcett’s program with recognition of excellence in providing quality care for cancer patients.  “The fact that our cancer program at Fawcett received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons is extraordinary,” said John P. Rioux, MD, FACS. This award could not have been achieved without the dedicated efforts of dozens of individuals. Special recognition goes to the physicians who regularly attend bi-weekly tumor conferences at Fawcett where a group of doctors review radiology, pathology and plan treatment for newly diagnosed cancer patients.”

A total of 82 programs received the OAA as a result of surveys performed in 2009. This number represents 18 percent of the 432 programs surveyed during this period.  Eight programs, of the 82, were New Program OAA recipients.  Of the eight New Programs, five of them are HCA facilities, Fawcett Memorial Hospital’s parent corporation.