Spectrum Health Earns Cancer Accreditation

American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Adds Commendation

Spectrum Health’s cancer program has been granted three-year accreditation with commendation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons.

Accreditation by the CoC is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. While Spectrum Health has been accredited for cancer care since 1934, this is the first time that the organization has been commended for its work in all areas.

Spectrum Health is the largest cancer care provider in West Michigan. The services available in Grand Rapids, centered at the Lemmen-Holton Cancer Pavilion, were surveyed this past fall.

“This is wonderful recognition of the quality of the cancer program at Spectrum Health,” said Matt VanVranken, executive vice president, Spectrum Health Delivery System. “Our patients and their families are the ones who truly benefit from the exceptional dedication and comprehensive skill and care demonstrated each day by our providers and team members.”

According to the American College of Surgeons, receiving care at a CoC-accredited cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to:

Quality care, close to home
Comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
A multispecialty team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
Access to cancer-related information, education and support
A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers, and treatment results
Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates 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 and 49 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

Spectrum Health is a not-for-profit health system in West Michigan offering a full continuum of care through the Spectrum Health Hospital Group, which is comprised of nine hospitals including Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a state of the art children’s hospital that opened in January 2011, and 140 service sites; the Spectrum Health Medical Group and West Michigan Heart, physician groups totaling more than 700 providers; and Priority Health, a health plan with 600,000 members. Spectrum Health is West Michigan’s largest employer with 19,000 employees. The organization provided $204 million in community benefit during its 2012 fiscal year.