Vol. XIX, No. 4, Fall 2011
You could say Falmouth Hospital’s cancer program has just received the equivalent of two medical Oscars.
Namely, endorsements from two accreditation agencies: the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
Both are three-year accreditations by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS).
The NAPBC accreditation makes Falmouth’s program one of just seven accredited programs in Massachusetts, 16 in New England and 313 nationwide, said Dr. Peter Hopewood, a surgeon who co-chairs the hospital’s Cancer Committee.
In addition, Falmouth received an Accreditation with Commendation, which means it met the standards set by CoC in all categories. This also means that the program is eligible for a 2012 Outstanding Achievement Award presented annually to only about 60 programs in the nation.
Dr. Hopewood explained that they “look at all stats on every patient with breast disease—cancerous and benign—from 2010. They review charts, make sure patients are…not having unnecessary mastectomies.” Compliance rates for various therapies and reports are studied as well as availability of support groups, prevention and early detection programs and post-treatment follow-ups.
Accrediting breast care facilities is a relatively new idea, said Falmouth Hospital Cancer Registrar Deb Crockett-Rice, CTR, who was credited with amassing the records that led to the dual recognition.
Soon after, in another area of healthcare, both Falmouth and Cape Cod Hospitals were recognized for their excellent stroke care.
Falmouth Hospital received the American Stroke Association’s “Get With The Guidelines” Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award and Cape Cod Hospital received the Silver Plus Performance Achievement Award for its strict adherence to practices that best treat and prevent this potentially fatal condition.
The award recognizes the hospitals for maintaining at least 75 percent compliance on certain stroke treatment measures, such as aggressive and appropriate use of medications like the clot-busting drug, tPA, antithrombotics and anticoalgulation therapy, as well as DVT prophylaxis, cholesterol-reducing drugs and educational efforts.
The Gold Plus Award is given to hospitals that achieve the 75 percent or greater compliance over 24 consecutive months. The Silver Plus Award is given for compliance over 12 consecutive months.
GWTG–Stroke uses the “teachable moment,” the time soon after patients have had a stroke, when they are most likely to listen to and follow their healthcare professional’s guidance. Studies demonstrate that patients who are taught how to manage their risk factors while still in the hospital reduce their risk of a second stroke. Through GWTG–Stroke, customized patient education materials are made available at the point of discharge, based on patients’ individual risk profiles. According to the American Stroke Association, each year approximately 700,000 people suffer a stroke—500,000 are first attacks and 200,000 are recurrent attacks.