The cancer program at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers has received a three-year approval with commendation from The Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons.

The approval follows a voluntary, on-site evaluation in February.

Morris Hospital received the highest possible overall rating on the survey and commendation in six areas.

Approval 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. According to the CoC, only 30 percent of all hospitals in the country have accredited cancer programs.

The six commendations were in the areas of timeliness and accuracy of data submission to the national cancer registry, excellence of the hospital’s clinical trial program, thoroughness of prevention and early detection programs, cancer registry staff education, and cancer-related quality improvement initiatives.

The cancer program at Morris Hospital encompasses surgical treatment, inpatient care, pathology, cancer registry, support services, community outreach for prevention and early detection, and radiation therapy, where patients have access to many of the latest cancer treatments, including 3-D conformal radiotherapy, intensity modulated radiation therapy, high dose rate brachytherapy and image-guided radiation therapy.

Morris Hospital has nine oncologists and five radiation oncologists on its medical staff.

Dr. Sanjiv Modi, medical oncologist, currently serves as chair of the Cancer Committee at Morris Hospital, and Dr. Kristopher Oswalt, general aurgeon, is the hospital liaison to the American College of Surgeons.

For patients, receiving care at a CoC-approved cancer program ensures access to comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment; a multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options; information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options; and access to cancer-related information, education, and support.

It also guarantees a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up, as well as ongoing monitoring and improvement of care.

“We know that our patients want to receive high-quality care close to home, and that’s exactly what we are committed to providing,” Liz Bates, director of Imaging Services at Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers, said. “Receiving accreditation demonstrates that we have a cancer program that is focused on optimal outcomes.”

Morris Hospital was specially noted during the survey for having impressive pathology reports and for going above and beyond the requirements for accreditation by focusing on serving the needs of the patients.

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.
The core functions of the CoC include setting standard for quality, multidisciplinary cancer patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 CoC standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve cancer care outcomes at the national, state, and local level.

Serving patients in 18 communities, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers includes the 89-bed Morris Hospital, as well as the Braidwood, Channahon, Dwight, Gardner, Marseilles, Minooka, Morris and Newark Healthcare Centers. Through the services of over 1,600 healthcare professionals, physicians and volunteers, Morris Hospital provides lifesaving cardiac intervention with angioplasty and stents, a radiation therapy center for cancer patients, a state-of-the-art intensive care unit, a dedicated pediatric unit, and immediate care services at two locations.

Morris Hospital is a Level II trauma center and a Level II perinatal care provider with an intermediate care nursery. Founded in 1906, Morris Hospital & Healthcare Centers is the largest employer in Grundy County.