KANSAS CITY, Kan. –The cancer program at The University of Kansas Hospital has been awarded the Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons for the second consecutive time. The award is among the most prestigious for cancer centers, with only about 15 percent of 1,345 cancers programs surveyed in 2007 receiving the award. Only 5 percent of those surveyed in 2007 received a second consecutive award. We are the only hospital in the Kansas City area to receive the award two consecutive periods.
The award recognizes cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients in such areas as cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, clinical services, research, community outreach and quality improvement. It comes after a detailed site survey of our program.
“Earning the Outstanding Achievement Award for a second time shows our commitment to patient care is consistently strong. This is the first survey done at our Cancer Center and Medical Pavilion in Westwood. It is clear the Westwood facility has provided a quality setting for the excellent care provided by physicians, nurses and other health care providers. Our patients recognize the quality of our people and programs, but its gratifying when outside experts confirm those feelings,” said Bob Page, President and CEO of The University of Kansas Hospital.
The past four years have been a time of record growth for the hospital’s cancer center, which is housed in the 55,000 square foot facility in Westwood. The cancer program has been a leader in the development of multi-disciplinary care, which brings various specialists and sub-specialists to the patient in one setting, allowing for collaboration and consultation among many cancer experts to determine the best patient care.
The hospital’s cancer program is part of the University of Kansas Cancer Center’s plan to bring National Cancer Institute designation to the area.