Radiation oncology sites awarded national accreditation

Smilow and Radiation Oncology leadership team members include (l-r): Frank Claudio, director, Radiation Oncology; Art Lemay, vice president of Network Development; Brian Wang, PhD, director of Radiation Oncology Physics; Lynn Wilson, MD; Christin Knowlton, MD; and Peter Glazer, MD, PhD, chief of Therapeutic Radiology.

Smilow Cancer Hospital sites in New Haven, Hamden, Guilford, Trumbull and Waterford that offer radiation oncology have been awarded accreditation by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx®).

The four-year accreditation ensures patients receive care that meets the highest safety and quality standards in the industry. YNHH is the only Connecticut hospital to be awarded the accreditation.

“We are very proud to be among the high-performance cancer centers across the United States to receive this accreditation,” said Christin Knowlton, MD, assistant professor of clinical therapeutic radiology. “This designation shows Smilow Cancer Hospital’s commitment to providing safe, high-quality, patient-centered care at our radiation oncology sites by adhering to the high standards required for APEx accreditation.”

The accreditation committee was spearheaded by Dr. Knowlton, Sarah Lombardi, regional quality and safety coordinator, and Holly Lincoln, medical physicist.

Accreditation is a rigorous, multi-step process that can take over one year to complete and provides an objective review by professional peers of radiation oncology practices’ essential functions and processes. It offers transparent, measurable, evidence- and consensus-based standards that emphasize a professional commitment to safety and quality. YNHH sites demonstrated that they are committed to high safety and quality standards in radiation oncology practice and provide patient-centered care by promoting effective communication, coordinating treatment and engaging patients and their families as partners in care.