Licking Memorial Hematology/Oncology Receives Recognition from Largest Oncology Society in United States
Licking Memorial Hematology/Oncology Receives Recognition
from Largest Oncology Society in United States
Licking Memorial Hematology/Oncology recently received a three-year certification from the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This certification is reserved for hematology/oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care. Licking Memorial Hematology/Oncology is currently the only QOPI Certified Practice in the Columbus metropolitan area, and is among just 278 QOPI Certified Practices in the nation.
“Our Hematology/Oncology staff is consistently thorough and proactive in providing high quality cancer care,” explained Licking Memorial Health Systems President & CEO Rob Montagnese. “Patients trust our multi-disciplinary team to recommend the correct course of treatment and provide precise and compassionate care.”
The QOPI Certification Program includes a voluntary and comprehensive on-site evaluation of its practices and policies. Certified Practices have successfully scored above the threshold on key QOPI quality measures, in addition to meeting the chemotherapy safety standards established by ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society. These standards assess performance in a variety of areas that affect patient care, including treatment planning, staff training and education, safe chemotherapy administration, patient consent and education, and assessment of patient wellbeing.
“By providing information, quality assessment measures, and resources, QOPI helps oncology practices evaluate the quality of the care they provide to patients, and engage in ongoing quality improvement, said ASCO President Julie M. Vose, M.D., M.B.A., FASCO. “Achieving QOPI certification demonstrates a practice’s commitment to quality and safety excellence in the care they deliver to patients.”
QOPI also collects data from hematology/oncology practices around the country, analyzing the data using more than 160 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. This information is provided to participating practices, enabling them to compare their performance to data from other practices to help identify potential areas for continual improvement.
Founded in 1964, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) is the world’s leading professional organization representing physicians who care for people with cancer. With more than 35,000 members, ASCO is committed to improving cancer care through scientific meetings, educational programs, and peer-reviewed journals. ASCO is supported by its affiliate organization, the Conquer Cancer Foundation, which funds ground-breaking research and programs that make a tangible difference in the lives of people with cancer. For ASCO information and resources, visit www.asco.org. Patient-oriented cancer information is available at www.cancer.net.
Licking Memorial Hospital has served the medical needs of Licking County residents since it was founded in 1898. The 227-bed facility employs approximately 1,900 staff members to meet the healthcare needs of the community. Licking Memorial Hospital is proud to have been named to Truven Health Analytics’ national list of 100 Top Hospitals a total of 12 times. For more information, visit www.LMHealth.org.