Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center’s Rectal Cancer Program Attains National Accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer

Accreditation Demonstrates BIDMC’s Commitment to Improving Cancer Care

BOSTON, MA – Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) is pleased to announce its Rectal Cancer Program is the first in the state of Massachusetts to receive accreditation by The National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) as part of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) Accreditation Program.

The ACS CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for patients with cancer by setting and raising standards.

“We are honored BIDMC has received this important accreditation,” said Pete Healy, Divisional President, Metro Boston, Beth Israel Lahey Health and President, BIDMC. “The ACS recognition highlights our commitment to high-quality cancer care and dedication to improving patients’ lives.”

The Leon V. & Marilyn L. Rosenberg Clinical Cancer Center at BIDMC, ranked 18th in the nation by US News & World Report, serves as an academic and clinical center of excellence. The Cancer Program is committed to meeting the highest standards in individualized patient care, continuing physician education and research. Its mission is to better the lives of patients with cancer, leveraging transformative science and pioneering therapies, to provide highly personalized and compassionate care accessible to all. 

“I am proud of our team in earning this meaningful accreditation recognizing the commitment to our patients,” said David Avigan, MD, Director of BIDMC Cancer Center and Senior Vice President of Cancer Services at Beth Israel Lahey Health. “We offer world-class care and are dedicated to developing life-changing advancements in treatment.”

CoC accreditation is granted to institutions committed to providing high-quality cancer care by demonstrating compliance with the CoC standards. Each cancer program must undergo a rigorous evaluation and review of its performance and compliance with the CoC standards. To maintain accreditation, cancer programs must undergo a site visit every three years. The CoC accreditation standards supply the structure for providing all patients with a full range of diagnostic, treatment, and supportive services either on-site or by referral, including community-based resources.

"Being the first in Massachusetts to receive this prestigious accreditation is a testament to the high-quality care we bring to every patient and family that walks through our doors. At BIDMC, we are dedicated to both compassion and innovation, working together with our patients through every step of their journey,” said Evangelos Messaris, MD, PhD, Chief, Colon and Rectal Surgery.

As a CoC-accredited institution, BIDMC also becomes an ACS Surgical Quality Partner. Being a Surgical Quality Partner signifies an institution’s dedication to consistently improving procedures and approaches, while maintaining a critical eye on process at every step. The Surgical Quality Partner designation lets patients know BIDMC is dedicated to quality and relentless self-improvement and has been verified or accredited by the ACS. Patients can trust that the care they receive at Surgical Quality Partner hospitals adheres to the most rigorous standards in surgical quality.

"ACS Quality programs are grounded in more than a century of experience and participation is an important measure of a hospital’s surgical quality. As an ACS Surgical Quality Partner, BIDMC has shown a commitment providing the best possible patient care, evaluating that care in a rigorous fashion, and dedicating themselves to continuous self-improvement," said ACS Executive Director & Chief Executive Officer Patricia L. Turner, MD, MBA, FACS.

Learn more about the CoC Accreditation Program.

Learn more about BIDMC’s Cancer Center.