The Medical Oncology Division of the WVU Cancer Institute Wheeling Hospital has been certified by the Association for Clinical Oncology’s (ASCO) Quality Oncology Practice Initiative Program.
The QOPI recognizes medical oncology and hematology/oncology practices that are committed to delivering the highest quality of cancer care.
Tina Bhatnagar, D.O., director of Medical Oncology at the hospital, said, ““This is truly a tremendous accomplishment for our department and a testament to our dedication to providing outstanding, compassionate and patient-centered care. QOPI certification standards are very rigorous, and every aspect of cancer care and treatment is closely scrutinized. I am so proud of our team and this national recognition of the high quality of care we strive to provide all of our patients each day.”
QOPI evaluates a practice’s performance in areas that affect patient care and safety. It is a voluntary program to help medical oncology and hematology/oncology practices evaluate the quality of the care they provide to patients. Data is collected and compared to more than 100 quality measures (aspects of care based on published care recommendations and expert opinion).
The Medical Oncology Division of the WVU Cancer Institute Wheeling Hospital achieved the certification by meeting QOPI's core standards in all areas of treatment, including:
• Treatment planning
• Staff training and education
• Chemotherapy orders and drug preparation
• Patient consent and education
• Safe chemotherapy administration
• Monitoring and assessment of patient well-being
“This award recognizes the outstanding patient care that our team delivers every day,” Douglass Harrison, president and CEO of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital and Reynolds Memorial Hospital, said. “Each patient is unique and each patient is cared for and treated based on their needs. As most people know, cancer care is best treated locally, and I am proud of our WVU Cancer Institute here at Wheeling Hospital.”
To achieve QOPI Certification, a practice must have participated in QOPI and met or exceeded a benchmark score on measures that compared the quality of its care against national standards. A practice then undergoes an on-site review and peer review by a select team of oncology professionals, such as physicians and nurses, at least once every three years.