That is the highest level of approval granted by the CoC, which sets quality-of-care standards for cancer programs nationwide. The CoC reviews approved programs at least every three years to ensure that they are meeting those standards.
Moore Regional was first approved as a Community Hospital Cancer Center in 1995 and as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center in 1999.
Earning an approval with commendation means the Cancer Center goes beyond the basic requirements, said Tom Smith, the hospital's administrative director of oncology and pharmacy.
"We exceeded the standards in virtually every area they look at," he said.
CoC inspectors evaluate how well a cancer center meets 36 different standards of quality. In none of those areas did the inspectors cite a need for improvement at Moore Regional.
"They looked at the medical staff and all of the different departments that make up the Cancer Center," Smith said. "They looked at the scope of services we offer, patient satisfaction ratings, staff training, facilities and equipment."
Top Cancer Registry
The CoC inspectors gave high marks to the hospital's Cancer Registry, which collects data on the type and stage of cancers, as well as treatment results.
"I think we have one of the top Cancer Registry departments in the country," Smith said. "We have four people in that department who have earned the Certified Tumor Registrar designation, which is almost unheard of."
Dr. Ellen Willard, a medical oncologist with Pinehurst Medical Clinic, said a big factor in the Cancer Center's high quality is "the very good, committed people we have at all levels."
"Approval with commendation means we have the variety of clinical services and supportive services to meet the needs of most cancer patients," she said.
According to the CoC, its approval of a cancer program is an assurance that patients have access to:
n Comprehensive care with a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
n A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best treatment options
n Cancer-related information, education and support
n Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care
n Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options
"The inspectors look at whether we are participating in clinical trials and to what extent," Smith said. "They want to see that the community is being offered the latest and greatest in cancer care."
Dr. Jeffrey Acker, a radiation oncologist and medical director of the Cancer Center, said Moore Regional's designation as a Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Center assures patients that they can receive high-quality care close to home.
"It means that nearly all cancer related services Ð from diagnosis to treatment to post-treatment care and monitoring Ñ can be taken care of here in Pinehurst, so patients don't have to travel many miles to a larger city," he said. "That is unique for a community this size."
Community Support
Acker said the scope and quality of cancer services at Moore Regional is, to a large extent, the result of community support. Private donations helped build the hospital's Patient Tower, which allowed all of the components of the Cancer Center to expand and come together under one roof in 2001.
Over the years, contributions to the Foundation of FirstHealth have helped Moore Regional acquire the most advanced equipment and technology for cancer care.
Each year, the Foundation's Cancer CARE Fund benefits many low-income patients by helping them pay for pain medication, medical supplies, nutritional supplements and transportation to the hospital for cancer treatments.
"Community support, both personal and financial, makes a tremendous difference in the care we are able to provide and the number of patients we can serve," Acker said.
