St. Luke's University Health Network has received national Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation as an Integrated Network Cancer Program (INCP) from the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (CoC), one of only two health care networks in Pennsylvania to receive this distinction, and one of only 51 health care networks nationwide.

"Cancer is a very complex disease requiring multidisciplinary care," said Lee B. Riley, MD, PhD, FACS, Medical Director, Oncology Services, St. Luke's University Health Network.

"Our affiliation with the Commission on Cancer continually helps us improve and grow our already extraordinary cancer program, assuring we provide all of the necessary clinical and psychosocial support our patients require," Riley said.

"I am very proud of our team," said Joe Pinto, Vice President, Network Operations, St. Luke's University Health Network. "Each day our dedicated, talented group of cancer experts and support staff focus on making sure our patients receive the most appropriate, comprehensive care with the goal of improving outcomes and saving lives."

To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet or exceed 34 CoC quality standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. The Three-Year Accreditation with Commendation is only awarded to a facility that exceeds standard requirements at the time of the triennial survey.

Prior to being named an Integrated Network Cancer Program, St. Luke's was the first and only Comprehensive Community Cancer Program in Pennsylvania to receive the CoC's highest quality recognition, the Outstanding Achievement Award, for three consecutive terms (2004, 2007, 2010) and the only Pennsylvania program to receive the award in 2010.

To be considered an INCP, an organization must have multiple facilities providing integrated cancer care and comprehensive services. All facilities that are part of the network must be CoC-accredited cancer programs. Each entity of the INCP meets performance expectations of quality measures and participates in cancer-related clinical research.

Because it is a CoC-accredited cancer center, St. Luke's takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists.

When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling and patient-centered services, including psychosocial support, a patient navigation process and a survivorship care plan that documents the care each patient receives and seeks to improve cancer survivors' quality of life.

CoC, established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care.