CHICO, CA (MPG) - On Jan. 30, 2023, The Commission on Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons granted Enloe’s Regional Cancer Center a three-year accreditation for its comprehensive high-quality cancer care. To earn this accreditation, Enloe was evaluated rigorously for a full year, meeting 34 quality care standards and maintaining levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. Moving forward, the cancer center will be evaluated every three years through a survey process.

“The American College of Surgeons really gives us the framework to continually challenge ourselves to improve,” said Ehren Hawkins, director of the Enloe Regional Cancer Center. “I am humbled and excited to be here at this exciting time for the organization.”

Enloe Medical Center is committed to the success and development of its cancer program. Enloe was the first in the North State to use the MRIdian Linear Accelerator — the most advanced tool in radiation oncology treatment, the medical center also added new services such as Enloe Breast Imaging, it earned recognition for robotic-assisted surgery and it’s in the process of building a new state-of-the-art comprehensive cancer center.

As part of the Commission on Cancer accreditation, the Regional Cancer Center takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases that requires consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This collaboration results in improved patient care. 

“Obtaining this accreditation is a testament to the dedication and efforts of our cancer center physicians, staff, and hospital,” said Keith Cavaness, D.O., chair of the Cancer Committee. “Leading this initiative with the support of my colleagues has been a fulfilling experience. We are committed to providing our patients with the highest level of care.”

Like all Commission on Cancer accredited facilities, the Cancer Center maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base, a joint program of the Commission on Cancer and the American Cancer Society. This nationwide, oncology-outcomes database is the largest clinical disease registry in the world. Data on all types of cancer are tracked, analyzed and used to explore trends in cancer care. Commission on Cancer accredited centers, in turn, have access to information derived from this type of data analysis, which is used to create national, regional and state benchmark reports.

When cancer patients choose to seek care at a Commission on Cancer accredited facility, such as Enloe’s Regional Cancer Center, they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home.

Enloe Medical Center is a local, nonprofit health care organization. For more information, please call 530 332-7300 or visit us online at www.enloe.org. Enloe Medical Center is located at 1531 Esplanade Chico, Calif.  95926.