Claxton-Hepburn

well C l a x t o n - H e p b u r n M e d i c a l C e n t e r living ll FALL 2016 Tomorrow is worth defending. VOLUME 15 NUMBER 3 Win snow shoes and poles! See page 2 for details. continues on page 2 accreditation exemplies our dedication to having the most up-to-date multidisciplinary cancer treatment program in the region." And the fact that both of these accreditations are voluntary highlights that commitment. "We chose to put ourselves through these rigorous standards," Dr. Kotlove says. "We hold ourselves to these expectations to ensure we are providing patients with the best possible cancer care." EXCELLENCE IN BREAST HEALTH The commitment to outstanding cancer care extends to specialized breast cancer care. Claxton-Hepburn's Breast Health Center is the only facility in the North Country recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. committed to cancer care Sophisticated Cancer Treatment Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center's Richard E. Winter Cancer Center is the only radiation oncology facility in the region that can offer chemotherapy together with sophisticated stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT)—benefits of the hospital's state-of- the-art Varian Trilogy Linear Accelerator. SRS—stereotactic radiation therapy of the brain or spine—is delivered by a team that includes a radiation oncologist. SBRT refers to one or several stereotactic radiation treatments within the body, excluding the brain or spine. If the patient's treatment includes chemotherapy, he or she may receive the infusion in a comfortable area that overlooks Claxton-Hepburn's healing meditation garden. The environment is also equipped with music, televisions, and areas where patients may socialize or spend time alone. demonstrate that we are accountable and continuously focusing on new ways to improve our program." To qualify for this dual accreditation, the Claxton-Hepburn specialists had to go through a rigorous process, which included compliance with 34 standards of care for the ACOS. "The standards cover everything from the medical guidelines of cancer treatment to the support programs we have available to our populations for screenings, prevention, and quality improvement," says Uday Lele, MD, MPH, medical oncologist with Claxton-Hepburn. "This "Accreditation requires that our center achieve the same high standards as the major cancer centers in the country and validates the high quality of care that we deliver." —Dennis Kotlove, MD, radiation oncologist with Claxton-Hepburn Dennis Kotlove, MD Multiple accreditations from national organizations underscore Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center's commitment to providing families with the highest quality of multidisciplinary cancer care. SERVICES TO TREAT individuals living with cancer are constantly evolving at Claxton-Hepburn, where a dedicated group of specialists is always pursuing the latest and most sophisticated diagnostic and treatment options. The forward-thinking healthcare team in the facility's Richard E. Winter Cancer Center leads the only program in the North Country that is accredited by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons (ACOS) as well as the American College of Radiology (ACR). "These accreditations illustrate that we hold ourselves to the highest standards in cancer care," says Dennis Kotlove,MD, radiation oncologist with Claxton-Hepburn. "They also

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