BCHS Cancer Care Center ranks high in colon cancer
treatment
The Cancer Care Center at Battle Creek Health System
(BCHS) is again ranked among the best in the nation
for cancer care. As part of Colorectal Cancer Awareness
Month, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) has published
a report that recognizes program outcomes from cancer
care centers throughout the country.
CoC measures and assesses the quality of care provided
to cancer patients, and announced that BCHS standard
programs and clinical trials have clearly demonstrated
a survivorship benefit for individuals receiving adjuvant
chemotherapy therapy (ACT) following surgical resection
of Stage III colon cancers that have spread to their
lymph nodes. Previous studies have shown that survivorship
can be improved from 30% with surgery alone for Stage
III colon cancer to over 70% with adjuvant chemotherapy.
"The recent Commission on Cancer reports ranked
cancer programs relative to other centers," said
Stephen Smiley, M.D., medical director of the medical
oncology department at The Cancer Care Center at BCHS. "Over
a multi-year period, we treated 90% of our patients
with Stage III colon cancer with adjuvant chemotherapy
treatment. The state and national averages were 68%
and 66% respectively. I believe that speaks volumes
about the kind of cancer care we offer our patients
in Battle Creek. Since we are involved with both research
and standard care, we are able to offer the very latest
in cancer care to our patients. Our high ranking validates
that."
"The Cancer Care Center's adjuvant treatment
rate has grown since 1998 when it was at 79%, already
well above the state and national averages," said
Patrick Garrett, president and CEO at Battle Creek
Health System. "This is supported by the findings
from the National Cancer Data Base that clearly shows
double-digit improvements in relative five-year survival
rates associated with patients receiving ACT."
"Another major contributor to our success is
the relationship between our oncology departments and
our surgical teams," said Dr. Smiley. "When
a patient comes to us, were are able to offer them
options on what course they may want to take to best
fight their cancer. We can offer standard and clinical
trial medical and radiological oncology treatments,
as well as surgical options or combinations of those."
Cancer clinical trials develop better ways of testing
treatments for the disease using new drugs, new approaches
to surgery or radiation therapy, and new combinations
of treatments. By taking part in a clinical trial,
participants are among the first to receive new research
treatments before they are widely available. The results
from those successful trials become standard procedures
of care on a wider basis.
Battle Creek Health System is an active participant
in the Grand Rapids Clinical
Oncology Program (GRCOP), which is funded by the National
Cancer Institute and a consortium of hospitals. The
Cancer Care Center involvement enables area cancer
patients access to more than 150 cutting-edge treatment
research opportunities in the quest to cure cancer
nationwide. These clinical trials test new treatments
in people with cancer offering many types of options
such as new drugs, new approaches to surgery or radiation
therapy, new combinations of treatments, or new methods
such as immuno therapy. Following a lengthy laboratory
process, they represent the stage of cancer research
that directly tests those treatments on patients. Participation
in clinical trials influences the future direction
of cancer care, and is a decision made between the
patient and their physician.
This CoC report is not the only source for recognizing
the true value of the services offered at Battle Creek
Health System. In a survey released by Press Ganey
Associates, the health care industry's leading independent
vendor of satisfaction measurement and improvement
services, The Cancer Care Center at BCHS is ranked
in the top 15% for overall customer satisfaction. The
survey goes on to say that of 109 cancer care centers
evaluated, BCHS is rated among the best for quality
and exceptional service. "In the medical oncology
program, The Cancer Care Center has achieved the 99th
percentile, second in the nation," said Dr. Smiley. "And
our patients continue to rank overall clinical care
they receive at The Cancer Care Center in the top 5%."
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of
Surgeons also recognizes Battle Creek Health System
as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program.
This approval is the highest awarded and held by fewer
than 10% of hospitals nationwide. BCHS is the only
hospital in southwest Michigan to hold this designation.
Approval by the CoC is awarded only to those facilities
that have voluntarily commit to provide the best in
diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and that undergo
a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performances.
In order to maintain approval, facilities with approved
cancer programs must also undergo an on-site review
every three years.
Battle Creek Health System also received two Certificates
of Achievement from the State of Michigan for excellence
in its cancer care programs. The Michigan Department
of Community Health recognizes BCHS with the Michigan
Cancer Surveillance Program's Gold Standard award for
case completeness and the Silver Standard honor for
accurate patient demographics and cancer data. All
of those recognitions demonstrate a commitment BCHS
has to its patients and their cancer care.
Battle Creek Health System is accredited by the Joint
Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
and has earned the Joint Commission’s ‘Gold
Seal of Approval.’ HealthGrades, a leading health
care information company that provides objective ‘report
card’ ratings nationwide, has named BCHS a 5-star
performer in orthopedic services. BCHS provides excellent
health care for the community and promotes wellness
for the whole person with access and compassion for
all. For the latest medical information, visit the
BCHS web site at www.bchealth.com or
call the BCHS Marketing Department at (269) 966-8132.
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