KINGSPORT– Holston Valley Medical Center's oncology program, which delivers a broad range of diagnosis and treatment services for the region, has been reaccredited with commendation for another three years.
The American College of Surgeons' Commission on Cancer recently bestowed this designation on Holston Valley's Christine LaGuardia Phillips Cancer Center. The commission said patients who come to an accredited facility are assured of receiving comprehensive care and a team approach, information about ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatment options.
Other benefits are access to prevention and early detection programs, cancer education and support services, a cancer registry for lifelong follow-up care and ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care.
"Perhaps the most important element of being an accredited facility is that patients receive quality care, close to home," said Jason Searcy, oncology director for Holston Valley. "The fact that we have again received accreditation with commendation is validation of the outstanding programs we provide and the healing environment we deliver to our patients."
Holston Valley received commendation for meeting five of the seven standards that serve as the basis for the Commission on Cancer's Outstanding Achievement Award. Searcy said only 5 percent of cancer programs achieve all seven standards. Holston Valley also earned a compliance rating for the remaining 29 standards.
HolstonValley's program, which is part of the Wellmont Regional Cancer Network, offers a full range of services to treat patients, including medical, radiation and surgical oncology. Other services are multi-disciplinary treatment conferences, clinical trials, genetic testing, a high-risk clinic, the Comprehensive Breast Center and a tumor registry.
"Due to Holston Valley's strong multi-disciplinary physician leadership, the oncology program prides itself on the longevity and success of treatment conferences to evaluate patient cases and discuss best treatment practices and options that can be applied to each patient's specific case," Searcy said.
Meanwhile, cancer patients can receive additional healing post-treatment by participating in a support groups and community outreach and advocacy activities at Holston Valley.
The oncology program, coordinating with the Comprehensive Breast Center at Holston Valley, provides a breast oncology nurse navigator – LaCosta Brown. She helps patients from the moment of diagnosis until the end of their treatment with items such as coordinating the scheduling of exams, timely office visits for treatment, presentations at treatment conferences and post-treatment needs. Searcy said Brown becomes a lifelong resource for breast cancer patients at Holston Valley.
"The oncology program also employs a dedicated lung oncology nurse navigator, Donna Maultbay, who performs the same role for all diagnosed cancers of the lung," Searcy said.
The breast center is also one of only six in Tennessee and two in Northeast Tennessee – Bristol Regional Medical Center is the other – that has been accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers, which is also overseen by the American College of Surgeons.
The Holston Valley cancer center is also home to Kathy Visneski, recipient of a national quality of life award from the American Cancer Society. She is an oncology clinical nurse specialist at the cancer center who has been certified as an advanced holistic nurse.
"All of our employees contribute in meaningful ways to the compassionate care we deliver to men and women during an emotional time in their lives," Searcy said. "But while this reaccreditation is professionally pleasing for our staff, it is even more important for our patients, who depend on us for lifesaving care. We are pleased to offer them such a high level of quality care."
Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.
