Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre (the Centre) is pleased to announce that their radiation therapy unit has again earned international accreditation by the American College of Radiology (ACR) in radiation oncology. In 2019, the local not-for-profit was the first international facility (and remains the only one) to achieve this recognition. ACR accreditation is a voluntary process that demonstrates Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre’s commitment to excellence in patient care and safety.
“We are constantly pushing ourselves to improve, as clinicians and as a centre. We are here to serve the community and I’m proud of our team and our commitment to excellence” says David Serratore, Medical Physicist at Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre. “It’s important that we continually demonstrate that commitment as technologies and techniques evolve in our field. It’s for that reason we maintain accreditation through an independent assessment of our programme, so the community can share in our success and ultimately benefit.”
Working in clinical affiliation with Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, the Centre has provided radiation therapy since May 2017 and can treat 95% of all cancers where radiation is a recommended treatment course. Residents no longer have to travel overseas for weeks at a time to receive radiation therapy and pain management treatment. Instead, people can be confident that they are receiving world-class treatment right here at home.
“It has always been our shared goal that patients in Bermuda receive the highest quality level of cancer care near the comfort of home,” said Daphne Haas-Kogan, Chair, Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center and professor, Harvard Medical School. “Because the Centre uses the same treatment technology and protocols as we do at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center, patients in Bermuda are receiving treatment that meets international standards of care.”
The Centre voluntarily underwent this rigorous review, securing a high level of confidence for patients and referring physicians. Board-certified expert radiation oncologists, medical oncologists and physicists oversee every aspect of the ACR accreditation.
The ACR seal of accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety. It is awarded only to facilities meeting specific Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards developed by ACR after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. In addition, patient care and treatment, patient safety, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programmes are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Radiation Oncology Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report for continuous practice improvement.
