John Muir Health Receives Cancer Program Accreditation

Nurse Navigators Demonstrate Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Approach to Patient Care at Bay Area's only Cancer Center

Walnut Creek, Calif. (Oct. 23, 2009) - John Muir Health's Walnut Creek and Concord campuses have earned a three-year accreditation with commendation as a Network Cancer Program (NCP) from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC), a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients. John Muir Health is one of only two hospitals in California and the only one in San Francisco Bay Area to receive the recognition.

"Our oncological services are built on John Muir Health's tradition of providing leading-edge technology, excellent patient outcomes, and personalized, compassionate care," said Brenda Carlson, Executive Director of Oncology Services, John Muir Health. "The Cancer Program accreditation is a tribute to the skilled and caring physicians, nurses, and staff whose commitment to outstanding patient care has earned this recognition."

To earn the Cancer Program voluntary accreditation, John Muir Health was required to demonstrate its commitment to cancer patients by providing state-of-the-art medical imaging for screening and diagnosis, comprehensive lab services, outstanding surgical services, advanced radiation and chemotherapy, and multi-disciplinary specialty teams that provide highly individualized patient care.

One of the innovative facets of the cancer program that John Muir Health offers to its patients is Nurse Navigators. "A Nurse Navigator is an Oncology Nurse with expertise in a certain cancer diagnosis and who is knowledgeable of the services in the Health System and the community," said Vicki Rocconi, RN, OCN the Nurse Navigator for Breast Health Services and a cancer survivor. "We are available to assist patients through diagnosis, treatment and ongoing care. I am very fortunate to work for a health system that understands the various needs of our patients and provides this free service."

John Muir Cancer Institute's team of eight Nurse Navigators supports all cancer programs at the Walnut Creek and Concord campuses, including breast, thoracic, esophageal, colorectal, brain tumor and neuro-oncology, gynecological, and urological cancers. They work with physicians, other nurses, ancillary services and health care professionals to educate patients about their diagnostic and treatment options, connect them with ongoing services and support, and provide personalized attention to their medical and emotional needs.

Additional support services for John Muir Health's cancer patients include:

• Genetic counseling and testing
• Second opinion and educational tumor boards
• Support groups
• Nutritional counseling
• Physical therapy
• Participation in clinical trials
• Survivorship program

"I am so proud that John Muir Health has been recognized with this accreditation," said Dr. Deborah Kerlin, medical director, Breast Health Services, John Muir Health. "This achievement acknowledges all the collaborative efforts by the caregivers of our cancer patients."

Learn more about John Muir Health's cancer services, including the Nurse Navigator program.

About John Muir Health

John Muir Health is a not-for-profit organization that includes two of the largest medical centers in Contra Costa County: John Muir Medical Center - Walnut Creek Campus, a 327-bed acute care medical center that serves as Contra Costa County's only designated trauma center; and John Muir Medical Center - Concord Campus, a 254-bed acute care medical center in Concord. Together, they are recognized as preeminent centers for cardiovascular care, orthopedics, neurosciences, cancer care and high-risk obstetrics. Other areas of specialty include general surgery, advanced endoscopic and robotic surgery, weight-loss surgery, orthopedic and neurology programs. In addition, John Muir Health provides a number of outpatient services throughout the community including: Brentwood, Tice Valley/Rossmoor and San Ramon. All three hospitals are accredited by The Joint Commission, a national surveyor of quality patient care.

About the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. Established by the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) in 1922, the multidisciplinary CoC establishes standards to ensure quality, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive cancer care delivery in health care settings; conducts surveys in health care settings to assess compliance with those standards; collects standardized data from CoC-accredited health care settings to measure cancer care quality; uses data to monitor treatment patterns and outcomes and enhance cancer control and clinical surveillance activities, and develops effective educational interventions to improve cancer prevention, early detection, cancer care delivery, and outcomes in health care settings.

(Posted October 23, 2009)