In a news release today, Hays Medical Center announced the HaysMed Medical Oncology/Hematology Section of the Dreiling/Schmidt
Cancer Institute has been recognized by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. The QOPI Certification Program provides a three-year certification for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet the highest standards for quality cancer care.
“We’re extremely proud to receive QOPI certification from ASCO,” said William Cadoret, director of pharmacy and oncology services. “It represents our sincere commitment to excellence for our patients.”
QOPI analyzes individual practice data and compares these to more than 160 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. The information is then provided in reports to participating practices. Individual practices are also able to compare their performance to data from other practices across the country. Based on this feedback, doctors and practices can identify areas for improvement.
To become certified, practices have to submit to an evaluation of their entire practice and documentation standards. The QCP staff and steering group members then verify through on-site inspection that the evaluation and documents are correct and that the practices met core standards in areas of treatment, including: treatment planning; staff training and education; chemotherapy orders and drug preparation; patient consent and education; and monitoring and assessment of patient well-being.
The QOPI Certification Program is a project of ASCO’s Institute for Quality, an ASCO affiliate dedicated to innovative quality improvement programs.
The QOPI Certification Program was launched in January 2010, with more than 200 practices already certified. This certification for outpatient oncology practices is the first program of its kind for oncology in the United States. Oncologists can achieve certification by meeting the highest standards of care. The QCP seal designates those practices that not only scored high on the key QOPI quality measures, but meet rigorous chemotherapy safety standards established by ASCO and the Oncology Nursing Society.