Regional Medical Center (RMC) held its annual Basket Raffle fundraiser for the 2015 American Cancer Society Relay for Life. Each hospital department donated a themed basket, and donations were received for a chance to win baskets valued at up to $750 each.

RMC employees have taken ownership of fundraising for Relay through a variety of methods such as basket raffles, bake sales, t-shirts and collecting “change for a cure.“ RMC supports the American Cancer Society with funds raised for cancer research in the fight against cancer. ACS resources help people right here in Calhoun County and across the nation. It is amazing what we can do when we work together as a community and when everyone gives something in time, money or prayers, no matter the amount.

“Every year, more than 1.5 million people in the U.S. are diagnosed with cancer, including more than 25,000 in our home state of Alabama,” said Louis Bass, CEO of RMC. “While no one can guarantee outcomes, many patients rely on RMC for their care and for hope in their journeys of survival. Likewise, we rely on American Cancer Society resources to support those journeys.”

Please join us at the Oxford High School Stadium on Friday, May 8, from 6 pm to 12 am midnight for this year’s Relay for Life. For more information about Relay, visit www.relay.acsevents.org. For more information about cancer resources at Regional Medical Center, visit www.rmccares.org.

The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Recognized RMC’s Cancer Center for
Providing Highest Quality Care to Cancer Patients

Regional Medical Center (RMC) recently received the Outstanding Achievement Award from the American College of Surgeons’ (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC). This national honor was awarded to a select group of only 74 U.S. health care facilities, including only two in Alabama, with accredited cancer programs for Commission on Cancer surveys performed in 2013. This recognition acknowledges cancer programs that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.

“Cancer care at RMC involves a multidisciplinary team providing our patients with the best treatment options and comprehensive quality care,” said Louis Bass, CEO of Regional Medical Center. “We offer the latest in cancer treatment, technologies and services, delivered by highly skilled physicians and staff. It’s a strong vote of confidence to have received this excellence in Cancer Care to recognize the skilled hands and compassionate care that our nurses and medical staff offer patients and their families. It should be comforting for patients and their families to know that the highest-quality cancer care is available right here at RMC, close to home, at a time when perhaps be close to home is something they cherish most.”

Oncology services at RMC include diagnostic and treatment services for a comprehensive list of cancer conditions. RMC’s multidisciplinary approach to oncology means patients benefit from the knowledge, expertise and research of physicians, nurses, clinicians, technicians, dietitians, pharmacists, therapists, counselors, chaplains and many others in their delivery of care. With a Cancer Center staffed by certified nurses with specialty training in oncology medicine, RMC became one of the first affiliate hospitals in the UAB Cancer Care Network, fortifying the resources, collaboration on treatment and diagnosis, and research opportunities available to patients and their families in Northeast Alabama.

State-of-the-art technologies available at RMC include: CT scanners, a PET/CT scanner, surgical robotics and a Varian Acuity Simulator for radiation oncology. Outpatient chemotherapy, the Cancer Registry, clinical trials and a Cancer Resource Center are also available.

To maintain accreditation, facilities with accredited programs must undergo onsite reviews every three years. RMC’s cancer program was evaluated on 34 program standards categorized within one of five program activity areas: cancer committee leadership, cancer data management, cancer conferences, clinical services and quality improvement. Our program was further evaluated on seven commendation standards. To be eligible, all award recipients must have received commendation ratings in all seven standards, in addition to receiving a compliance rating for each of the 34 program standards.

The purpose of the award is to raise awareness on the importance of providing quality cancer care at health care institutions throughout the U.S. In addition, it is intended to:

• Motivate other cancer programs to work toward improving their level of care.
• Facilitate dialogue between award recipients and healthcare professionals at other cancer facilities for the purpose of sharing best practices.
• Encourage honorees to serve as quality-care resources to other cancer programs.
• Educate cancer patients on available quality-care options.