Hospital accreditations take lots of hard work by many people, but they sometimes fly under the radar. That won’t be the case with the Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute’s most recent accreditation.

In March, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer accredited the Cancer Institute as an Integrated Network Cancer Program — something only 60 cancer centers have been able to accomplish nationwide.

Typically, cancer center accreditations are given to individual hospitals – but because of the Institute’s cohesiveness and consistent standards of care across Hartford HealthCare, the entire cancer center spanning five sites received a three-year accreditation.

The accreditation was granted following rigorous site reviews focusing on 34 standards.  The Cancer Institute surpassed what was required and received “commendations” in three areas – clinical research, nursing care and accuracy of data.

“This has been a major undertaking, and a clear indication of the progress we have made in realizing our vision to become one cohesive cancer center that ensures that patients have access to the highest standards of care no matter where they enter our system – Backus Hospital, Hartford Hospital, MidState Medical Center, The Hospital of Central Connecticut and Windham Hospital,” said Donna Handley Vice President of Operations for the Institute. “This took an incredible amount of teamwork. I am so proud of everyone who helped make this happen.”

For patients and the community, the accreditation means:

  • Patients and family members participate in care decisions.
  • Hartford HealthCare is dedicating resources to provide quality treatment and supportive care services to cancer patients.
  • Patients have access to important components of treatment recommended by the Health and Medicine Division (formerly the Institute of Medicine), National Cancer Comprehensive Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology.
  • A multidisciplinary oncology team is involved in the planning and coordination of cancer care.
  • Patients are informed about clinical research studies and trial options, including those offered by Memorial Sloan Kettering as part of an alliance between the Cancer Institute and MSK.
  • Programs work in collaboration with the community to provide cancer prevention and cancer screening events.
  • Standards of care are verified by a reputable national organization.
  • There is a high level of physician participation, including Disease Management Teams that meet regularly.
  • Quality cancer care is available close to home.

“This validates the extensive work our Institute has undertaken since 2016, establishing system-wide  policies and procedures, Disease Management Teams, community education and support and countless other wrap around services and programs,” said Dr. Peter Yu, Physician in Chief of the Institute. “Moving forward, there is nothing we can’t do for our patients as we share our experiences, expertise and best practices.”

According to the Commission on Cancer, an accreditation of this kind demonstrates a cancer program’s commitment to providing high-quality, multidisciplinary, patient-centered cancer care, and its ability to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support no matter where they enter the system of care: Backus, Hartford Hospital, The Hospital of Central Connecticut, MidState Medical Center or Windham Hospital.

“This accreditation really is important,” said Judith Keating, who, as manager of the Cancer Registry for the Hospital of Central Connecticut and MidState Medical Center, played an instrumental role in coordinating the accreditation effort. “People should realize that when they go to one of our local hospitals for care, they have access to resources that spread far beyond that one particular location. There is a full network that they can tap into, and that expands their options and reasons for hope.”