The CAMC Cancer Center has received reaccreditation by the QOPI Certification Program (QCP™), an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). The Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) was designed by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in recognition of the importance of integrating continuous quality improvement into patient-centered clinical practice. This voluntary program allows facilities to monitor quality initiatives against benchmarks established through ASCO’s member oncologists and quality experts using clinical guidelines and published standards.
Having first achieved QOPI certification in December 2012, the CAMC Cancer Center remains the first and only QOPI-accredited center in the state. The recertification is effective for three years. More than 900 oncology practices have registered for the QOPI program, and more than 250 practices are currently certified.
“Practices that achieve recertification continue to show their strong dedication to providing patients with high quality cancer care,” said ASCO President Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, FASCO. “The QOPI Certification Program assists practices in maintaining quality and safety excellence by providing assessment measures and information for continual quality improvement.”
In applying for recertification, the cancer center had to again meet QCP’s requirements, which includes participating in a voluntary comprehensive site assessment and being successful in meeting the standards and objectives of the QOPI Certification Program.
QOPI® analyzes individual practice data and compares these to more than 160 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. The information is then provided in reports to participating practices. Each facility is also able to compare its performance to data from practices across the country.
To become certified, facilities must submit to a practice-wide evaluation of their documentation standards. The QCP staff and steering group members then verify through on-site inspection that the evaluation and documents are correct and that they have met core standards in areas of treatment, including:
- Treatment planning
- Staff training and education
- Chemotherapy orders and drug preparation
- Patient consent and education
- Safe chemotherapy administration
- Monitoring and assessment of patient well-being
“This certification is only given to facilities that meet the highest standards of care, so the fact that the cancer center has been recognized not just once, but twice, is a real testament to quality services we provide,” said Dave Ramsey, CAMC president and CEO. “Earning the initial certification, as well as the recertification has taken many years and we are very proud of the dedication and exemplary work of the physicians and staff at the CAMC Cancer Center.”
CAMC has a long history of providing outstanding cancer care in West Virginia. CAMC’s cancer services have been accredited since 1956 and offer the highest trained, nationally certified health care professionals in the region. In 2015, CAMC built the CAMC Cancer Center to meet the growing needs for advanced cancer care in the state.
Accredited by the DNV and the Commission on Cancer, the CAMC Cancer Center provides personalized multidisciplinary cancer care, access to innovative clinical cancer research trials, and hematological care for a diversity of benign and malignant conditions. The Center also houses the CAMC Breast Center, where breast surgeons, nurse navigators, genetic counselors and radiologists who are experts in breast diseases provide the highest level of care for patients with breast cancer.
Most of the Cancer Center’s nurses are certified in oncology. The Center has two board certified oncology pharmacists and a multidisciplinary CARE Team that includes a social worker, psychologist, dietician, financial navigators, patient navigators and pastoral care. The Center also offers a boutique for cancer patients needing assistance with wigs, hair care and other products, as well as an outpatient pharmacy for patients’ medication needs.
Physicians help educate internal medicine residents of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Charleston-Division. Trainees also can work with Cancer Center staff physicians on research projects leading to academic presentations/publications that are integral to their training requirements.
CAMC’s commitment to cancer care also extends throughout the community. CAMC Cancer Center - Teays Valley offers hematology/oncology services and infusion for patients in Putnam County and surrounding communities. CAMC offers specialized care to patients diagnosed with cancer of the female reproductive system through our gynecology office. And CAMC’s clinical cancer research activities have been central to providing state-of-the-art cancer care opportunities for our patients for more than 25 years.
Most nurses at the center are certified in oncology.
There are two board certified oncology pharmacists. CAMC’s outpatient pharmacy at the Cancer Center, has been awarded full URAC accreditation in addition to the previously awarded ASHP accreditation. This dual specialty pharmacy accreditation is only achieved by providing the highest level of patient care, including enhanced patient monitoring, detailed follow up assessments and extensive, detailed reporting. These recognitions will allow the pharmacy to access an even greater variety of specialty medications to provide care for more patients with a broader scope of disease states.
Physicians help educate internal medicine residents of the West Virginia University School of Medicine Charleston-Division. Trainees also can work with Cancer Center staff physicians on research projects leading to academic presentations/publications integral to their training requirements.
CAMC’s Clinical Cancer Research activities have been central to providing state-of-the-art cancer care opportunities for our patients for more than 25 years.
