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Valley Regional Cancer Center at Helen Keller Hospital Campus – Sheffield
MUSCLE SHOALS AREA – Bethesda Cancer Center in Florence and Valley Regional Cancer Center in Sheffield have been awarded accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The cancer centers are the only ACR-accredited facilities in Alabama.
The accreditation was awarded following a yearlong rigorous surveying process that included assessments of both cancer centers’ personnel, equipment, treatment planning and records, as well as patient safety policies and quality control efforts. Every aspect of the work performed at both centers was evaluated to ensure the ACR standards were met.
“This is a true testament to the level of care we provide at Bethesda Cancer Center and Valley Regional Cancer Center,” said Dr. Stanley Clarke, who serves as medical director of both facilities. “Our centers received this endorsement from a national third-party agency, and it is a direct reflection of the highly skilled team, advanced technology and approaches to treating cancer we have in place at Bethesda Cancer Center and Valley Regional Cancer Center.”
To receive ACR accreditation, a cancer center must undergo a peer-review evaluation that provides third-party, impartial review and analysis of patient care. Bethesda Cancer Center and Valley Regional Cancer Center were evaluated by a group of board-certified physicians and medical physicists, all of whom are considered experts in the imaging and radiation oncology field.
“This is an important development for cancer patients who are seeking advanced treatment and quality care right here in the Shoals,” said Wanda Pinkston, administrator of both cancer centers. “Traveling to larger metropolitan areas to receive radiation therapy can create hardships for families in our community. The ACR accreditation awarded to our centers affirms the quality of care we provide meets national clinical standards, and patients in our region can feel confident they are getting great care close to home.”
ACR is a national organization with a membership of more than 36,000 medical professionals from the imaging and radiation oncology fields. ACR’s mission is to improve the health of patients and society through evidence-based guidelines, quality assurance, safety standards and clinical research.
Receiving ACR accreditation is another milestone in a series of accomplishments for Valley Regional Cancer Center and Bethesda Cancer Center. Last fall, Valley Regional Cancer Center installed new cancer-fighting technology that expanded the radiation therapy services offered to patients in Colbert and Lauderdale counties. Additionally, both centers achieved near perfect scores on patient satisfaction surveys conducted in 2012 and 2013.
Bethesda Cancer Center and Valley Regional Cancer Center have served the communities of northwest Alabama for over 20 years.
