OREANDA-NEWS. April 11, 2017. The American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer has granted three-year accreditation to Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center’s cancer program, which treats 1,600 patients every year. To earn accreditation, cancer programs must meet 34 quality care standards, complete a survey evaluation every three years, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care.

“At Kaiser Permanente, our coordinated, integrated care model is especially effective when it comes to treating our patients with cancer,” said Mary Ann Barnes, RN, president of Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and Health Plan Hawaii Region. “Oncologists, hospitalists, surgeons, radiologists, primary care physicians, dietitians and other specialists work together using a multidisciplinary approach that puts our patients at the center, which improves their quality of life and the level of care we provide.”

“We have a wonderful team working every day to deliver the best care possible for our patients,” said Jennifer Carney, MD, chief of oncology at Kaiser Permanente Hawaii. “We are honored by this recognition and the trust our patients place in us.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that Hawaii will see 6,540 new cancer diagnoses and 2,520 cancer-related deaths in 2017; breast, lung, colorectal and prostate cancer are the most common types in the state. CoC-accredited programs like Moanalua Medical Center are measured on various aspects of cancer care, including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, lifelong follow-up for recurrent disease, and end-of-life care. It also provides access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient services and support.

Accredited facilities also maintain a cancer registry and contribute data to the National Cancer Data Base, a joint program of the CoC and American Cancer Society, which explores trends in cancer care and creates benchmark reports at the state, regional and national level.