LEXINGTON, Ky. — Saint Joseph Hospital has received national recognition for its rectal cancer care services, earning a three-year accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.
Saint Joseph Hospital received this accreditation by demonstrating compliance with the NAPRC standards addressing program management, clinical services and patient quality improvement. Centers must establish a multidisciplinary rectal cancer team that includes clinical representatives from surgery, pathology, radiology, radiation, and medical oncology.
“This recognition from the American College of Surgeons demonstrates our commitment to the highest quality care for the patients we serve,” said Anthony Houston, Ed.D., FACHE, CEO, CHI Saint Joseph Health. “Our dedicated caregivers work tirelessly to meet the rigorous standards required to attain this accreditation. We are proud to be one of only two accredited programs in Kentucky.”
Saint Joseph Hospital met standards addressing the clinical services that the rectal cancer program provides, including Carcinoembryonic Antigen (CEA testing), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computerized Tomography (CT) imaging for cancer staging which allow patients to start treatment within a defined timeframe.
“Colorectal-related cancers are the third leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States, but our team is working to change that each day,” said John Dvorak, MD, medical director for surgery Saint Joseph Hospital. “We continue to incorporate innovative technology in screenings and surgeries, including being one of the first in the state to use AI-assisted colonoscopy technology to screen for colon and rectal cancers.”
Rectal cancer programs accredited by the NAPRC undergo a site visit every three years and are accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. Accreditation is granted to programs committed to providing the best possible care to patients with rectal cancer. The NAPRC provides the structure and resources to develop and operate a high-quality rectal center, and accredited programs follow a model for organizing and managing a rectal center to ensure multidisciplinary, integrated, comprehensive rectal cancer services.
“A cancer diagnosis can be terrifying for patients, and knowing they are getting the highest quality care available is comforting to them,” said Nicolas Burnett, MD, Radiation Oncology medical director, CHI Saint Joseph Health – Cancer Care Center in Lexington. “Through our affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center, a nationally ranked cancer program, and our dedication to providing cutting-edge technology and treatments in Kentucky, our patients can be confident with their care in our hands.”
To learn more about CHI Saint Joseph Health’s cancer care, visit www.chisaintjosephhealth.org/cancer-care.
