First in Delaware: APEx Accreditation for Radiation Oncology
Recognition marks excellence in therapy, patient care for Graham Cancer Center services
Christiana Care Health System’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is the first in Delaware to achieve the American Society of Radiation Oncology Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx) accreditation of its Radiation Oncology Department.
The Graham Cancer Center earned the four-year accreditation for its radiation oncology services at both its main location at the Graham Cancer Center in Newark, Delaware, and at the Concord Health Center in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
“We are honored to be recognized as a center of excellence in the delivery of radiation oncology,” said Adam Raben, M.D., chair of Christiana Care Radiation Oncology. “APEx accreditation validates the efforts of our entire radiation oncology team to deliver patient-centered care that meets the highest possible standards.”
APEx is an independent radiation oncology practice accreditation program developed by the American Society of Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), the largest radiation oncology society in the world, to support quality improvement and safety in radiation therapy and patient care.
“This accreditation is yet another demonstration of the outstanding cancer care that we provide—and that Delawareans can count on, close to home,” said Nicholas J. Petrelli, M.D., Bank of America endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute. “Our voluntary accreditation by APEx confirms our commitment to best practices in providing high quality, safe radiation oncology services to our community.”
APEx accreditation is a rigorous, multi-step process that evaluates policies and procedures using consensus-based standards for radiation oncology practice. Evaluation includes a self-assessment process as well as a facility visit conducted by a radiation oncologist and a medical physicist.
“We spent over a year reviewing all of our policies, standards of care, standard operating procedures and documentation throughout our main department and at the Concord Health Center,” said Dr. Raben. “We believe it is important for our community to know that our radiation oncology service is held to the highest possible standards.”
Christiana Care radiation oncologists are leaders in adapting the very latest imaging and treatment advances into clinical practice. The team also helps write the standards for best practices in care delivery and teaches other doctors and health care professionals in this specialty.
