Centra, Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center

Centra Cancer Care Services has earned a three-year full accreditation with commendation as a comprehensive community cancer program from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons. Only 25 percent of cancer care programs in the United States receive this recognition.

The Commission on Cancer accreditation recognizes the quality of comprehensive cancer care available at a facility and means that patients have access to the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate and support patients with cancer and their families.

"This accreditation is a testament to the excellence of Centra's quality across a broad range of cancer services," said Matthew Foster, M.D., who is chairman of the Centra Cancer Committee. "We know patients look for accredited programs when they are seeking the best possible care for their cancer."

Only facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancers receive approval from the Commission on Cancer. A rigorous evaluation process and performance review by the commission is necessary every three years to achieve and maintain accreditation.

For cancer patients and their families, Centra's approved cancer program means:

• Quality care close to home
• Comprehensive care offering a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
• A multidisciplinary, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options available to cancer patients
• Access to cancer-related information, education and support
• A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up
• Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options

"We have added many new services as well as new technology to our cancer care services over the past few years," said Curt Baker, Centra vice president of cancer care services, "and we know our cancer care ranks high compared to other centers."

From the latest cancer-fighting technology to new state-of-the-art facilities and services, Centra offers cancer care for patients and their families throughout central Virginia. Centra's comprehensive cancer services and treatments range from the newest da Vinci Surgical System and Trilogy linear accelerator to chemotherapy, biological and targeted drug therapies to genetic testing and clinical trials. Centra treats a broad range of cancers, including lung, prostate, breast, brain, kidney, bladder, ovarian, lymphoma, leukemia, colon, uterine and rectal cancers as well as many others. In 2008, Centra opened the Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center, which brought radiation and medical oncology into one facility, for patient convenience.

Centra is one of approximately 1,500 Commission on Cancer approved cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, representing close to one-quarter of all hospitals.

"By coming to an approved cancer treatment program," according to the Commission on Cancer, "you can be sure that you will receive the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancer and that full consultative services will be available from all medical disciplines involved in diagnosing and treating cancer. And you can be sure that your condition will be watched carefully through a lifelong program of follow-up care."

Centra also is the first health care system in the country to earn national STAR Program Certification for offering rehabilitation care for cancer survivors. In addition, Centra's comprehensive breast cancer program has earned a top national accreditation by The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers.

For more information about Centra Cancer Care Services or the Centra Alan B. Pearson Regional Cancer Center, call 434.200.4730.