Geisinger earns cancer program accreditation

Aug. 12, 2009, DANVILLE – The cancer programs of Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre, have been granted three-year terms of accreditation with commendation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons. 

Geisinger’s cancer programs were voluntarily evaluated through an on-site evaluation. The CoC determined that Geisinger demonstrated a commendation-level of compliance with one or more standards including cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement.

“This level of accreditation demonstrates that Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Wyoming Valley provide a broad network of comprehensive cancer programs that address the entire spectrum of cancer control activities, from prevention to rehabilitation and long-term follow-up,” said Thanjavur Ravikumar, M.D., F.A.C.S., chair, cancer services at Geisinger. “It is estimated that accredited cancer programs annually diagnose and treat 80 percent of all new cancer cases. Only 40 percent of accredited programs earn the esteemed commendation. This clearly illustrates the quality care that is available to northeastern and central Pennsylvania residents.”

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.4 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed this year.
The CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through research, standards-setting,, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. 

About Geisinger Health System
Founded in 1915, Geisinger Health System (Danville, Pa.) is one of the nation’s largest integrated health services organizations.  Serving more than two million residents throughout central and northeastern Pennsylvania, the physician-led organization is at the forefront of the country's rapidly emerging electronic health records movement. Geisinger is comprised of two medical center campuses, a 740-member group practice, a not-for-profit health insurance company and the Henry Hood Center for Health Research—dedicated to creating innovative new models for patient care, satisfaction and clinical outcomes. For more information, visit www.geisinger.org.