Two hospital programs nationally recognized
Comprehensive Cancer Center
You can say you’re a state-of-the-art cancer center, or you can prove it with leading-edge technology, comprehensive medical treatment, and compassionate care. You also can certify it, an elective process that measures your practices against a nationwide gold standard, resulting in the title “Comprehensive” Cancer Center, the highest designation available to a community hospital.
Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula was confident it would achieve such certification when it signed up for the rigorous scrutiny by the American College of Surgeons in April 2005. The honor came a year later, this summer, with the announcement that the hospital received not only certifi cation but “special commendation” in seven categories.
“We just received the final printed report, confirming the seven categories of commendation,” says Chris Hall, RN, director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We have been commended for our outcomes analysis, which means how we look at results; how well our patients are doing compared to national studies; the quality of our National Cancer Database submissions, which are error-free; the quality of our staging, which requires doctors to determine the stage of each cancer, as it makes a difference in appropriate treatment; and patient guidelines.
“We also were commended for our prevention and early detection services, which are important because early detection is the key to survival; our cancer registry staff education; and for cancer-related improvement. We must document, every year, how we’ve improved our cancer treatment and demonstrate, as we have, that there has been marked improvement.”
In addition, the hospital is proud of the many well known local surgeons, renowned for their expertise in cancer surgery; local oncologists; and its highly trained and uniquely educated nursing staff.
“We also have a couple of unique programs that serve as a model to other facilities in terms of compassionate care,” Hall says. “Through our Patient Guide Program, new patients can schedule a free consultation with our nurse educator for a full assessment that will lead to the development of a coping plan for that patient. For the many patients who feel lost and don’t know where to turn, this is very important.
“We also have the Patient Navigator Program which provides individual-trained support. A mother diagnosed with breast cancer will be coupled with another mother who has been through it and formally educated to provide support.”
The program — as with all Comprehensive Cancer Center programs — shifts sympathy to empathy and facilitates compassionate care.
Cardiac Wellness Program
At 67 years old, Laura Brisbee says she has finally found an exercise program she can stick to.
As a participant in Community Hospital’s Cardiac Wellness Program, Brisbee has dedicated herself to a routine of weights and cycling three times a week. She feels great, eats the right things, and has fun. “It’s a great environment with no competing and lots of encouragement. I get all the advice I need to keep my heart healthy,” she says.
The American Association of Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Rehabilitation (AACVPR) recently recognized the Cardiac Wellness Program’s record of helping patients like Brisbee. An AACVPR certifi cation, awarded to the program last summer, demonstrates that the program complies with rigorous standards that ensure patients receive high quality advice and care during rehabilitation from a heart attack or cardiac surgery.
“We had to show that we provide a safe exercise environment and give patients the tools they need to reduce their risk of another cardiac event,” says Denise Hasegawa, Community Hospital RN, who prepared the certification application.
Cardiac Wellness Program participants work with a team of nurses, exercise physiologists, registered dietitians, and the program medical director to develop an exercise plan that is tailored to their medical condition and health and fitness goals. In Phase II, the initial outpatient recovery period, participants follow a progressive exercise routine while being monitored by a telemetry machine that checks their heart rate and rhythm. After 6–12 weeks, they progress to Phase III, which allows them to exercise without telemetry but still under supervision by program staff. Patients may also attend a four-week “Heart Smart” Nutrition class and weekly education classes on health topics.
The AACVPR reviewed every aspect of the patient’s experience during the yearlong certifi cation process. The work involved was well worth it, Hasegawa says. The Pulmonary Wellness Program has been certified since 1999.
Enrollment in cardiac rehabilitation requires a doctor’s referral. To find out more, please contact the Cardiac Wellness Program at Hartnell Professional Center, 625-4765.