Lakeland, FL – Johnny Dixon was 42 years old when he discovered he had prostate cancer.
“It was very frightening,” said Mr. Dixon, who has three daughters, one son and seven grandchildren.
He sought cancer care at Lakeland Regional Health and immediately felt welcome and nurtured. “There was no question too big, no time was too much. They gave me more security. My care team made me feel like I was the only patient.”
This standard of excellent care helped Lakeland Regional Health’s oncology program earn its first gold Accreditation with Commendation, the highest level of recognition, from the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer. Gold status indicates a cancer program complies with all standards at the time of the survey and receives commendations on seven additional standards.
This top-tier, three-year status also makes Lakeland Regional Health a candidate for the prestigious Commission on Cancer Outstanding Achievement Award, which is granted each December to less than 20 programs throughout the United States that achieve excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients.
The accreditation is the result of a rigorous on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor in 27 standards as well as commendations in the following seven areas: Clinical Research Accrual, Cancer Registrar Education, Public Reporting of Outcomes, College of American Pathologists Protocols and Synoptic Reporting, Oncology Nursing Care, Rapid Quality Reporting System Participating and Data Submission/Accuracy of Date.
Only 67 programs in Florida are accredited by the Commission on Cancer, with a total of 1,284 Commission on Cancer-accredited programs in the United States, representing approximately 25 percent of all hospitals and health systems in the United States.
“Our team members are committed to provide high-quality inpatient and outpatient cancer care to our patients, their families and our community,” said Graham F. Greene, MD, FACS, FRCS, Lakeland Regional Health Chief Academic Officer and Hollis Cancer Center Executive Director. “Our community can be assured they are receiving world-class oncology care right here close to home.”
For Mr. Dixon, the warm, friendly care made a significant difference as he embarked on his cancer journey, undergoing a radical prostatectomy and today celebrating 22 years of being cancer free.
“My physician called me personally. He called me just to check on me. That was like, ‘Wow!’ That was like my oldest brother was sitting there, just holding my hand.”
Lakeland Regional Health earned a three-year Accreditation with Commendation in six areas in 2015. In 2016, Becker’s Hospital Review named Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center one of 101 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Systems.
About Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center
Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center provides specialized cancer care services, including medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, gynecologic oncology, surgical oncology and urologic oncology. The Hollis Cancer Center’s board-certified physicians and team of clinical and research professionals use state-of-the-art technology to provide the best possible outcomes for cancer patients. Becker’s Hospital Review named Lakeland Regional Health one of 101 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Oncology Systems for 2016. Currently, the Hollis Cancer Center is participating in 34 clinical trials and its research over the years has helped to bring 50 FDA-approved chemotherapy and biologic medications to the marketplace. Lakeland Regional Health Hollis Cancer Center is accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and accredited with commendation by the Commission on Cancer.