SARASOTA (June 17, 2022) - The Sarasota Memorial Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute has earned accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC). This recognition is only granted to those programs that are committed to providing the highest quality care to patients with rectal cancer.
Sarasota Memorial demonstrated compliance with a rigorous set of standards held by the NAPRC that address program management, clinical services, and quality improvement for rectal cancer patients. This designation is a result of the work being done at the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute to provide patients on the Suncoast with treatments and support only found at the nation's best cancer centers.
"At SMH, we are extremely proud that we have been granted this distinguished accreditation, achieved by only a handful of centers in the state," said Richard Brown, MD, Chief Program Medical Director of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute at SMH. "This accreditation is just another example of the commitment of our physicians, staff and leadership to provide outstanding care to the Sarasota community."
The Sarasota Memorial Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute established a multidisciplinary rectal cancer team, including medical and radiation oncology, surgery, pathology, radiology and gastroenterology in order to achieve this accreditation. The care team works together, reviewing pertinent patient history and radiology and pathology reports to determine the most appropriate course of treatment for all patients with rectal cancer prior to the initiation of any treatment, and every patient's progress is continuously monitored by the team.
"I am extremely proud of the work of our team," said Kenneth Meredith, MD, Chief of Surgical Oncology at SMH. "This accreditation is a testament to their dedication to providing specialized cancer care close to home."
The NAPRC conducts a site visit every three years for accredited rectal cancer programs, which are also accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer.
About the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute
The Oncology Tower on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota Campus is one of several advanced cancer care facilities that make up Sarasota Memorial's Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute. The tower serves as a central location and collaborative space where more than 70 community physicians and oncology specialists work with oncology nurses, navigators, counselors, and other cancer care professionals to guide patients through every step of their cancer journey and ensure they have coordinated access to advanced, personalized treatments for their specific cancers. For information, visit www.smh.com/cancer.