Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford earns accreditation with commendation

Waterford, CT (July 16, 2024) – The Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons (ACoS), has granted a new three-year accreditation with commendation to the cancer program at Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford.

To earn CoC accreditation, a cancer program must meet 34 CoC quality care standards, be evaluated every three years through a survey process and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. The CoC care standards include a review of processes and outcomes with a focus on the full continuum of care, from prevention to survivorship and end of life, while also addressing quality of life.

"We are proud to be recognized for our efforts in advancing clinical programs and research in the field of cancer care,” said Eric Winer, MD, director of Yale Cancer Center and president and physician-in-chief of Smilow Cancer Hospital. “Being awarded this accreditation with commendation is an honor that acknowledges the commitment and innovative spirit that the Smilow Cancer Hospital and Yale Cancer Center (YCC) team brings to our clinical programs every day.”

Some of the specific details cited by the CoC during its review of the Smilow facility in Waterford included a high number of nurses certified in oncology care, excellence in genetic counseling, access to rehabilitative services for conditions such as lymphedema, nutritional counseling services, access to palliative care and more.

In the report’s conclusion, Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford was called out for, “The knowledge, experience and energy of nursing, coordinators and Cancer Committee members.” Furthermore, “The collegiality, coordination, and commitment to quality of the oncology staff, Cancer Committee members, hospital leadership and Yale New Haven representatives were consistently evident during the site review process. The synergy of this shared mission and delivery of high-quality cancer services in alignment with the CoC Standards to their community is impressive,” the CoC report stated.

Yale New Haven Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital continues to rank among the top US hospitals, according to U.S. News & World Report’s annual “America’s Best Hospitals” listing. Of the nearly 5,000 hospitals surveyed, Smilow ranks at #45 for cancer care. See the entire list of U.S. Best Hospitals. 

• Smilow Cancer Hospital at Waterford treats patients with the latest advances in both chemotherapy and radiation oncology. As part of Smilow Cancer Hospital, the Waterford site also offers patients access to the full spectrum of Smilow’s renowned care. Some Smilow information:
• Fifteen Smilow Cancer Hospital locations throughout Connecticut and one in Rhode Island. 
• Smilow Waterford recently added a “Paxman Scalp Cooling” system to its services, helping patients reduce hair loss during chemotherapy treatments.
• Smilow Waterford saw 1,770 new patient referrals for Medical Oncology and 690 for Radiation Oncology in fiscal year 2023.
• Smilow Waterford has 27 registered nurses, all certified in chemotherapy/biotherapy, and 85 percent of those are also oncology certified nurses.
• Nearly half of the cancer patients in Connecticut are seen at a YCC/Smilow facility reflecting its presence and impact.
• Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven is ranked as one of the highest hospitals for cancer care in the country by U.S. News & World Report. The 2023-24 report ranked Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven in the top 50 in the nation and is number 1 in Connecticut. Yale New Haven Hospital also rated as “high performing in six procedures and conditions related to cancer, including Leukemia, Lymphoma & Myeloma, Colon Cancer Surgery, Lung Cancer Surgery, Ovarian Cancer Surgery, Prostate Cancer Surgery and Uterine Cancer Surgery.
• A record number of clinical trials (300 now available) provide the most advanced cancer therapies, including a state-of-the-art Phase I Clinical Trials Infusion Unit.
• Research firsts, including successful immunotherapy treatment and novel drug therapies across the gamut of cancer, including melanoma and cancers of the lung, head, neck, stomach, breast, kidney and bladder.
• Specialty services at all locations include survivorship care, social work, prevention education, tobacco treatment, integrative medicine, pain management, onco-dermatology, cardio-oncology, support groups, cancer boutique, psycho-oncology, sexuality, intimacy and menopause support, exercise & nutrition support, and integrative medicine services such as therapeutic massage, relaxation imagery, Reiki touch, yoga, pet visitation and art expression.

Like all CoC-accredited facilities, Smilow Cancer Hospital maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), a joint program of the CoC and 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 and analyzed through the NCDB and used to explore trends in cancer care. CoC-accredited cancer 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. These reports help CoC facilities with their quality improvement efforts.

Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale New Haven is part of the nationally recognized Yale New Haven Hospital, and is affiliated with Yale Cancer Center (YCC), one of only 56 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the nation and the only such center in Connecticut. Smilow Cancer Hospital, the most comprehensive cancer facility in New England, includes private inpatient rooms, multidisciplinary outpatient treatment centers, 12 operating rooms, infusion suites, diagnostic imaging services, and specialized women's and children’s services. Smilow Cancer Hospital also operates a dozen outpatient care centers across Connecticut. YCC and Smilow Cancer Hospital are members of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), an alliance of 28 cancer centers in the U.S., whose mission is to improve the quality, effectiveness and efficiency of oncology care. www.ynhh.org/smilow.