The American College of Radiology (ACR) has awarded a three-year term of accreditation to Norris Cotton Cancer Center's (NCCC) Radiation Oncology department after a complete review and on-site surveys of its professional and technical practices and facilities in Lebanon, New Hampshire and St. Johnsbury, Vermont.
"This accreditation by the American College of Radiology assures our patients that we meet the highest standards of quality and safety," said Alan Hartford, MD, PhD, Interim Section Chief of Radiation Oncology. "We are committed to serving the needs of our community by delivering superior radiation oncology services and providing consultation at all levels of care."
Radiation oncology (radiation therapy) is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. For some cancers radiation therapy is the first line of defense; for other types radiation is used in support of surgery, chemotherapy, or other treatments. Advancements in imaging and beam shaping have led to improved targeting while reducing side effects. NCCC's Radiation Oncology services include the most current technology and treatment in:
• advanced intensity-modulated radiation therapy with Trilogy™ and TrueBeam™ radiation equipment
• image-guided radiation therapy capabilities
• stereotactic-body-radiation-therapy applications
• partial-breast radiation therapy for early stage breast cancer
• targeted prostate cancer treatments
• outpatient stereotactic radiosurgery
The ACR is the nation's oldest and most widely accepted radiation oncology accrediting body, with over 500 accredited sites, and 25 years of accreditation experience. The ACR seal of accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting specific Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards developed by ACR after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Patient care and treatment, patient safety, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Radiation Oncology Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.
Progress in early detection and screening methods for pancreatic cancer