“(This accreditation) is a reconfirmation that Fort Hamilton conforms to the highest standards of care for cancer treatment,” said Dr. Ralph Wright, medical director of the Gebhart Center for Cancer Care. “We follow the national guidelines for high quality cancer care from surgery, pathology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.”
According to the American Cancer Society, more than 1.4 million cases of cancer will be diagnosed in 2009. At Fort Hamilton, about 200 cancer patients are treated per year, according to Marielou Vierling, spokeswoman for the hospital.
There are currently more than 1,400 CoC–accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals.
Accreditation 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. To maintain accreditation, must undergo an on-site review every three years, according to CoC officials.
For more information about Fort Hamilton or the Gebhart Center for Cancer Care, visit www.FortHamiltonHospital.com.
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2843 or jheffner@coxohio.com.
About the Author