According to the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, comprehensive care means that a center has all the services you need integrated into one program. A program accredited as comprehensive tries to provide the day-to-day needs of cancer patients such as radiation, chemotherapy, dietary services, support services and rehabilitation all in one convenient location. However there must be integrated access to a wide variety of services in order to be called comprehensive.

An accredited cancer center should have access to the appropriate up-to-date technology. Imaging, surgical expertise and availability, pathology, wellness and rehabilitation, emergency room care, nutritional and social services, as well as hospice services, are all evaluated as part of the accreditation process. Adherence to national treatment guidelines provided by groups such as the National Cancer Institute, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network or the American College of Radiology, is also expected.

Comprehensive care also means coordinated cancer care because no single specialist can treat cancer patients in today’s high tech world. Multidisciplinary defines a team approach. The majority of cancer patients today receive more than one type of cancer treatment. Surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are often used in combination. Consultation and care from other specialty fields should be available so patients can schedule multiple appointments conveniently and in a coordinated way, saving them time, money and unnecessary stress during a time of healing.

Fifty-two percent of the people diagnosed with cancer today will be cured. The goal of these accredited cancer programs is to continuously improve both the diagnosis and the care of all cancer patients in their communities. Accredited, community-based programs help bring this advanced care to smaller communities, rather than concentrating it all in academic medical centers. You can visit the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer website at www.facs.org/cancer for more information on accredited cancer programs.

The Covenant Cancer Treatment Center sees approximately 650 new patients every year in our accredited program. As we embark on the next 20 years of providing Northeast Iowans with quality cancer care, know that we will continue our commitment to providing you with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary and accredited cancer care.

Please feel free to call us 319-272-2800 with any cancer-related questions you may have. We are available to help you.

Additional Benefits of an Accredited Program

Cancer Registry

The Cancer Registry is committed to collecting and providing information to enhance and improve cancer patient care at Covenant Medical Center. The registry maintains a complete database for all cancers diagnosed and/or treated at Covenant Medical Center. Data collection is a shared service with the State Health Registry of Iowa (SHRI) and Covenant Medical Center. The SHRI assists with data collection provide quality management, continuing education, and follow-up of cancer patients.

Institutional Review Board

The Institutional Review Board (IRB) meets quarterly to review all protocols/clinical trials brought to them by investigating physicians for approval.

Tumor Board Conferences

Tumor Board conferences are held once a week at Covenant Medical Center. A physician moderates the conferences, which are attended by physicians and other health care professionals. The weekly tumor board conferences provide a major avenue to develop effective multidisciplinary approaches to cancer care at Covenant Medical Center. The Tumor Board honors the best medical traditions for sharing meaningful information to colleagues about challenging cases, and for stimulating discussion for how to best manage patients.