Bronson’s Regional Cancer Program Receives National Accreditation

The Bronson Healthcare system’s regional cancer program with cancer centers in Battle Creek and Kalamazoo has received accreditation from the American College of Surgeons (ACoS) Commission on Cancer (CoC). This is a three-year Integrated Network accreditation encompassing both Bronson Cancer Centers. Bronson Cancer Center – Battle Creek held individual accreditation between 1995-2021.

“Accreditation as an Integrated Network Cancer Program reflects our team’s commitment to the communities we serve,” says Mark Montross, director of practice administration for Bronson’s cancer centers. “It means, when cancer patients and their families come to Bronson, they can expect to receive high-level care from a multidisciplinary team that ranks among the best in the nation.”

To earn voluntary CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 38 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. Programs that receive CoC accreditation have proven that they provide high-quality, coordinated care, as well as supportive services and resources across the full continuum of cancer care in their communities. Achieving accreditation by the CoC means Bronson patients receive:

• Comprehensive, patient-centered care through a multidisciplinary team approach
• Access to information on clinical and new treatment options
• Ongoing monitoring of care and lifelong patient follow-up
• Psychosocial support and survivorship care
• Continuous quality improvements in care

“We are committed to transforming cancer care across the region,” explains Dr. Randy Mudge, radiation oncologist and physician-in-chief for Bronson’s Cancer Program. “Our approach to cancer treatment is to surround each patient with the local resources they need. A combination of prevention and education, along with high-quality, timely care from diagnosis through treatment, is at the cornerstone of all we do.”

CoC accreditation offers a framework for Bronson to provide all aspects of cancer care including prevention, early diagnosis, cancer staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, life-long follow-up for recurrent disease and end-of-life care. When patients receive care at a CoC facility, they also have access to information on clinical trials and new treatments, genetic counseling and patient-centered services including psycho-social support, a patient navigation process and a survivorship care plan that seeks to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life.

• Bronson Cancer Center – Battle Creek has been accredited with the CoC since 1995. It has also been a recipient of the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award several times. This is the first accreditation for Bronson Cancer Center – Kalamazoo which opened in 2021.
• Bronson Cancer Center – Battle Creek holds the prestigious ASTRO APEx accreditation for radiation oncology.
• The American College of Surgeons recognizes Bronson's breast health program as an Accredited Breast Center (NAPBC).

As a CoC-accredited cancer program, Bronson takes a multidisciplinary approach that allows for consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists and other cancer specialists, as well as coordination with each patient’s primary care team. This results in better care and outcomes for cancer patients.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1.4 million cases of cancer are diagnosed every year in the United States. There are currently only 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. CoC-accredited facilities diagnose and/or treat more than 70 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients.

Established in 1922 by the American College of Surgeons, the CoC 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. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons.  or more information, visit www.facs.org/cancer.