Avera St. Luke’s cancer program honored for ‘outstanding achievement’

Avera St. Luke’s Cancer Program has been honored by the Commission on Cancer, receiving its “Outstanding Achievement Award” for 2007.

Established in 2004, the “Outstanding Achievement Award” was designed to recognize cancer programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients. Nationwide, only 67 programs (approximately 15 percent) received this award as a result of all facility surveys performed in 2007. 

A facility receives this honor following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor, during which the facility demonstrates a “Commendation” level of compliance with seven standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program:

• cancer committee leadership
• cancer data management
• clinical services
• research
• community outreach
• quality improvement

In addition, a facility receives a compliance rating for the remaining 29 standards. The top programs are then chosen for the “Outstanding Achievement Award.”