BID Needham Cancer Services Awarded

Date: July 26, 2006

BIDMC Contact: M Pantridge
Phone: 781-453-3891
Email: mpantridge@bidneedham.org

The American College of Surgeons has awarded Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Needham a prestigious three-year accreditation for cancer care.

The accreditation recognizes that cancer services at BID-Needham meet rigorous standards set by the college. A three-year designation is the highest level the college confers.

"This accreditation gives cancer patients the assurance that at BID-Needham, they will get care that is clinically excellent as well convenient and comfortable," said Mark Huberman, M.D., chief of oncology.

Helen Fraini of 38 Elmwood Road, Needham, a lung cancer patient at BID-Needham, said, "Knowing that I can get excellent care at BID-Needham means that I don't have to go all the way into Boston for chemo, or deal with traffic and parking hassles. It's nice when you can reduce the stress a little bit and just focus on getting well. Being 73 years old, it means so much not having to go out of the town."

During a recent visit, the college's surveyor met with hospital and cancer program administrators and staff. They also examined documentation of clinical findings, patient care evaluations, community education, organizational processes and the hospital's tumor registry.