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(ST. JOSEPH) - The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACS), recently granted three-year accreditation to the cancer program at Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan. The cancer program, which cares for patients at facilities in St. Joseph and Niles, has been accredited by CoC since 1987.

To earn voluntary accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated by survey triennially, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. The accreditation signifies Corewell Health’s multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation between surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists focused on improving patient care.

“Our ongoing accreditation from the CoC demonstrates our deep commitment to exemplary care for our patients,” said Andrea Bauman, senior director of oncology services, Corewell Health in Southwest Michigan. “We’re constantly striving to ensure we’re providing the most comprehensive, up-to-date care possible. This process requires incredible collaboration from the multidisciplinary team to make our patients’ care experience as smooth as possible.”

The CoC Accreditation Program provides the framework for Corewell Health to improve its quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs that focus on the full spectrum of cancer care, including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, lifelong follow-up for recurrent disease and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC-accredited facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials, new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services, including psychosocial 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.