Immediate

Parkland's cancer program earns accreditation

DALLAS (August 4, 2009) - Parkland Health & Hospital System's cancer program recently received accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer. One of Parkland's fastest growing services with 20,000 patient visits per year, the cancer program first became accredited in 1979. "Becoming accredited by the commission is voluntary and only one in four hospitals have received this special designation," said Josh Floren, senior vice president of medicine services. "To meet the standards necessary for commission approval, we had to show that we provide the highest quality of cancer care from diagnosis to treatment for all our patients." The Commission on Cancer Accreditation Program encourages treatment centers to improve the quality of patient care through various key programs, such as prevention, early diagnosis, pretreatment evaluation, staging, rehabilitation, surveillance for recurrent disease, support services and end-of-life care, all of which can be found at Parkland. Parkland's Oncology Clinic receives approximately 250 referrals each month. In May, 2008, the clinic renovated, adding three times the amount of space for larger exam rooms, individual chemotherapy rooms and added privacy. For more information about Parkland's cancer program, visit www.parklandhospital.com.

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For Further Information Contact: Candace White 214.590.8054