The Commission on Cancer (CoC), has granted national accreditation to Sarasota Memorial Health Care System’s expanding cancer program. This recognition is awarded sparingly to cancer programs that meet more than 30 CoC quality care standards and maintain levels of excellence in the delivery of comprehensive patient-centered care. Sarasota Memorial has maintained continuous CoC accreditation since 1988. To maintain CoC accreditation, SMH undergoes a rigorous voluntary survey every three years. SMH’s cancer program offers a full spectrum of care, from prevention, early diagnosis and cancer staging, to evidence-based treatments, rehabilitation and life-long follow-up. The health system also provides access to clinical trials, genetic counseling, psycho-social support, patient navigators and the Thrive program, which offers an array of therapies and ongoing support to improve cancer survivors’ quality of life after treatment. In January, the hospital approved $220 million to further expand its cancer program. Like all CoC-accredited facilities, SMH maintains a cancer registry and contributes data to the National Cancer Database (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. As a CoC-accredited cancer center, SMH has access to information derived from this type of data analysis.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System