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Huntington Hospital Cancer Center Receives Outstanding Achievement Designation

Posted on: Friday, 6 March 2009, 16:59 CST

PASADENA, Calif., March 6 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntington Hospital Cancer Center has received the Outstanding Achievement Award (OAA) from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), which recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to their patients.

"This is an extremely important designation that illustrates the commitment by Huntington's medical staff, hospital staff and administration, to provide the highest level of cancer care available," said Howard S. Kaufman, MD, medical director of Huntington Cancer Center. "It puts us in a category shared by very few of the nation's comprehensive cancer centers."

Huntington received the award after a rigorous on-site evaluation process performed by a CoC physician surveyor. The hospital had to demonstrate a Commendation level of compliance with seven standards representing the full scope of the program. In addition they were judged on compliance to 29 other standards. Only 19 percent of programs surveyed received the OAA in 2008.

Standards evaluated included leadership, data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement. In particular Huntington's nurse navigator position exemplifies quality service, with specially trained registered nurses guiding patients through every aspect of a cancer diagnosis. A plethora of cancer support groups are available at Huntington Cancer Center, providing compassionate care and valuable resources to the community.

Partnerships with physicians from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), the University of Southern California (USC), the City of Hope Medical Center and Huntington's community based physicians ensure outstanding leadership is provided throughout the center.

"To be accredited by the American College of Surgeons with the extra recognition we get by earning the Outstanding Achievement Award puts Huntington on par with the finest cancer centers in the region. I am very proud of our program and the medical staff and employees who worked so hard to reach this goal," said Kaufman.

Huntington Hospital is a 636-bed nonprofit hospital housing the only trauma center in Southern California's San Gabriel Valley and home to regionally renowned programs in cancer care, neurosciences and cardiovascular services. It is a world-class destination for the treatment of epilepsy, prostate cancer, computer assisted joint replacement and robotic minimally invasive bariatric surgeries and is an active teaching hospital with affiliations with USC, UCLA and the City of Hope Medical Center. Consistent with its nonprofit mission, last year Huntington Hospital provided more than $44 million in community benefit through charity care; benefits directed at vulnerable populations; and health research, education and training. The hospital also provided $32.4 million of additional support to the Medicare population and another $51 million to fund programs that would otherwise be absent from the community, such as trauma care, geriatric psychiatric services and a level three neonatal intensive care unit. For further information about the OAA earned by Huntington Cancer Center, contact public relations at (626) 397-5464 or visit www.huntingtonhospital.com.

SOURCE Huntington Hospital Cancer Center

Source: PR Newswire

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