San Rafael Medical Center Earns Prestigious National Cancer Center Accreditation

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has granted three-year accreditation to the Kaiser Permanente San Rafael cancer program.

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) is dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring
of comprehensive quality care. To earn CoC accreditation, hospital cancer programs must meet 34 quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process, and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care.

San Rafael Medical Center has been designated as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program, which means it cares for 500 or more newly diagnosed cancer cases each year, provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, and participates in cancer-related clinical research.

CoC-accredited cancer centers must also demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases. This requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists.

“This accreditation follows several years of dedicated work by a highly skilled, multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, and staff,” said Naveen Kumar, MD, Physician-in-Chief, Kaiser Permanente San Rafael. “We are very proud of the team’s success in meeting or exceeding rigorous quality standards set by the Commission on Cancer.”

When patients receive care at a CoC-accredited facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling, and patient-centered services—including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process, and a survivorship care plan that documents each patient’s care and seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

“Earning this accreditation means that our patients and their loved ones who face a cancer diagnosis are assured of receiving the most advanced cancer care available, from skilled and compassionate professionals,” said Judy Coffey, RN, Senior Vice President & Area Manager for Kaiser Permanente Marin-Sonoma. “Providing this kind of exceptional care enhances the health of our entire community.”

“We are proud to have the great care we provide in our new Cancer Center on Las Gallinas in San Rafael confirmed with CoC accreditation,” added Pat Kendall, RN, Medical Group Administrator and Cancer Program Administrator at San Rafael Medical Center. “And we are committed to providing this recognized excellence for our community, along with Marin General Hospital.”

The CoC was established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons as a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons.  For more information, visit: www.facs.org/cancer