RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute have earned national accreditation for radiation oncology services at 10 hospitals, including facilities in New Brunswick and Hamilton.
The accreditation, awarded by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), makes RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute one of only six health systems nationwide to receive the designation for 10 or more locations, according to an Oct. 12 announcement from the health system.
The designation comes through ASTRO’s Accreditation Program for Excellence, known as APEx, which evaluates radiation oncology programs for patient safety, quality assurance and patient-centered care.
It is the first time RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute have received accreditation for their radiation oncology operations as a single program. Individual hospitals previously held accreditation from the American College of Radiology or the American College of Radiation Oncology.
The accreditation covers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton, along with Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth.
Three hospitals also received specialized APEx accreditation for radiopharmaceutical programs: Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston and Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville.
According to RWJBarnabas Health, the three facilities are among fewer than 20 hospitals nationwide to receive the specialized designation.
To earn APEx accreditation, radiation oncology programs undergo a voluntary, multistep evaluation by independent surveyors. The review examines safety procedures, quality assurance practices and patient engagement.
More than 450 individual facilities nationwide have received APEx accreditation, according to ASTRO.
Steven K. Libutti, senior vice president of oncology services at RWJBarnabas Health and director of Rutgers Cancer Institute, said the designation reflects the health system’s efforts to maintain consistent standards across its radiation oncology programs.
“Achieving APEx accreditation from ASTRO reflects our team’s steadfast commitment to delivering exceptional care and upholding the highest standards in radiation oncology at New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center,” Libutti said.
Rutgers Cancer Institute is New Jersey’s only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center. Its partnership with RWJBarnabas Health provides cancer treatment, research and access to clinical trials at facilities throughout the state, including the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center in New Brunswick.
Radiation therapy is used to treat many types of cancer, sometimes in combination with surgery, chemotherapy or other treatments. According to ASTRO, more than 1 million Americans receive radiation treatments each year.
Sameer R. Keole, chairman of ASTRO’s board of directors, said the accreditation recognizes the health system’s commitment to patient safety and treatment standards.
“By achieving this comprehensive, industry-leading certification, the RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute team has affirmed its commitment to delivering radiation oncology care that is safe, effective and wholly centered on patient needs,” Keole said.
