Kirkland Cancer Center Receives Recognition for High-Quality Cancer Care from Largest Oncology Society



Kirkland Cancer Center Receives Recognition for High-Quality Cancer Care from Largest Oncology Society

JACKSON -Kirkland Cancer Center has been recognized by the QOPI® Certification Program (QCP™), an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO®), as successfully completing a three-year certification program for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care. QCP™ builds on ASCO's Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®).

"We are thrilled to receive this certification from the QOPI® Certification Program, which reinforces our commitment to excellence for our patients at the Kirkland Cancer Center," said Gina S. Myracle, Executive Director of the Alice and Carl Kirkland Cancer Center.

In applying for certification, Kirkland Cancer Center participated in a voluntary comprehensive site assessment against clearly specified standards that are consistent with national guidelines and was successful in meeting the standards and objectives of QCP™.

"ASCO's QOPI Certification demonstrates an oncology practice's dedication to providing high-quality care to patients with cancer," said ASCO President Bruce E. Johnson, MD, FASCO. "The certification process is rigorous and by successfully completing it, providers put into practice their commitment to

QOPI® analyzes individual practice data and compares these to more than 160 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. The information is then provided in reports to participating practices. Individual practices also are able to compare their performance to data from other practices across the country. Based on this feedback, doctors and practices can identify areas for improvement.

To become QOPI® Certified, practices have to submit to an evaluation of their entire practice and documentation standards. The QCP™ staff and task force members then verify through an on-site survey that the evaluation and documents are correct and that the practices met core standards in areas of treatment, including:

• Creating a safe environment--staffing, competencies, and general policy

• Treatment planning, patient consent, and education

• Ordering, preparing, dispensing, and administering chemotherapy

• Monitoring after chemotherapy is administered, including adherence, toxicity, and complications

• Treatment planning

• Staff training and education

• Chemotherapy orders and drug preparation

• Patient consent and education

• Safe chemotherapy administration

• Monitoring and assessment of patient well-being.

QOPI and the QCP are projects dedicated to innovative quality improvement programs. For more information, please visit: http://www.instituteforquality.org/qopi-qcp.