Radiation Oncology Hits the Mark!

Kudos to the department of radiation oncology for its three-year accreditation by the American College of Radiology Committee on Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation for the period July 16, 2013 through July 31, 2016.

The exhaustive survey, which occurred on April 8, included a review of departmental policies and procedures, continuous quality assessment and improvement activities, practice assessment, compliance with 26 ACR practice guidelines and technical standards, patient medical record documentation, a tour of the facility and interviews with staff.

“Very few institutions actually make the effort of achieving credentialing from the ACR,” said Paul Okunieff, a professor and chair of the department of radiation oncology, UF Health Cancer Center director and Marshall E. Rinker Sr. Foundation and David B. and Leighan R. Rinker Chair. “We pursued ACR accreditation because our faculty and staff are committed to quality patient care, and we are very proud to be among the very few with this level of ACR accreditation in North Central Florida.”

Though the department has long been recognized for its quality patient care by radiation quality programs established by the National Cancer Institute, achievement of ACR accreditation for Radiation Oncology was especially important as it is a standards requirement by the American College of Surgeons-Commission on Cancer for accreditation of the Hospital Cancer Program and for certification of the Hospital Breast Center Program.

“I would like acknowledge the hard work and effort of many of the faculty and staff in radiation oncology who helped to prepare for the actual survey,” said Steve Ritz, the department’s administrative director. “Their efforts joined that of all the employees in this department who provide outstanding service every day, which was of critical importance to our successful accreditation process.”

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