Woodland Memorial Hospital Recertified for Cancer Care from Largest Oncology Society in United States

Dignity Health Woodland Memorial Hospital has received reaccreditation by the QOPI Certification Program (QCP™), an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). QCP builds on ASCO’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®), providing a three-year certification for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care.

The honor recognizes the excellent care and treatment provided by Woodland Memorial’s Hospital’s IV Therapy Department and the dedication to medication safety demonstrated by Woodland Memorial Hospital’s Pharmacy.

“This recertification is really a testament to our team’s commitment to meeting nationally recognized standards for quality cancer care,” says Sonia Reichert, MD, Oncologist, Woodland Clinic Medical Group/Dignity Health Medical Foundation. “We are proud to provide such exceptional care and treatment to cancer patients in our community.”

Woodland Memorial Hospital first achieved certification in 2013. In applying for recertification, Woodland Memorial Hospital participated in a voluntary, comprehensive site assessment against clearly specified standards consistent with national guidelines, successfully meeting those standards and the objectives of QCP. 

“Hospitals that achieve recertification continue to show their strong dedication to providing patients with high quality cancer care,” said ASCO President Julie M. Vose, MD, MBA, FASCO. “The QOPI Certification Program assists practices in maintaining quality and safety excellence by providing assessment measures and information for continual quality improvement.” 

QOPI is a voluntary self-assessment and improvement program launched by ASCO in 2006 to help hematology-oncology and medical oncology practices assess the quality of the care they provide to patients. Through the QOPI program, practices abstract data from patients’ records up to twice per year and enter this information into a secure database. More than 900 oncology practices have registered for the QOPI program.  

“Achieving QOPI recertification is in keeping with our commitment to comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to care,” says Alborz Alali, MD, Oncologist, Woodland Clinic Medical Group/Dignity Health Medical Foundation. “Through our Cancer & Neurosciences Center, our team of board certified oncologists is able to offer patients the latest in technology, in a convenient setting.”

Woodland Memorial Hospital and Dignity Health Medical Foundation provide diagnosis and treatment for a variety of cancer types, including breast cancer, bone cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer and skin cancer. Cancer care services include all digital imaging center, including digital mammography, and the latest in radiological and nuclear technology necessary for screening and early detection.

The QCP was launched in January 2010, with more than 250 practices already certified. This certification for outpatient oncology practices is the first program of its kind for oncology in the United States. Oncologists can achieve certification by participating in a voluntary comprehensive site assessment against clearly specified standards that are consistent with national guidelines. The QCP seal designates those practices that not only scored above the threshold on the key QOPI quality measures, but met chemotherapy safety standards established by ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

QOPI® analyzes individual practice data and compares these to more than 160 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. The information is then provided in reports to participating practices.  Individual practices are also able to compare their performance to data from other practices across the country. Based on this feedback, doctors and practices can identify areas for improvement.   

To become certified, practices have to submit to an evaluation of their entire practice and documentation standards. The QCP staff and steering group members then verify through on-site inspection that the evaluation and documents are correct and that the practices met core standards in areas of treatment, including:

• treatment planning;
• staff training and education;
• chemotherapy orders and drug preparation;
• patient consent and education;
• safe chemotherapy administration;
• monitoring and assessment of patient well-being.

QOPI and the QCP are projects dedicated to innovative quality improvement programs.

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