American Society for Radiation Oncology Honors Intermountain Health Cancer Centers as First in Utah

Nine Intermountain Health cancer centers are the first in Utah to earn accreditation from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), APEx- Accreditation Program for Excellence – an objective external validation that a radiation oncology facility is delivering high-quality patient care. They join two Intermountain cancer centers in Colorado previously accredited, and are among only 200 facilities nationwide to earn APEx accreditation.

The Intermountain cancer centers in Utah to earn accreditation are located at: Intermountain St. George Regional Hospital, Intermountain Cedar City Hospital, Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital, Intermountain American Fork Hospital, Intermountain Riverton Hospital, Intermountain Medical Center, Intermountain LDS Hospital, Intermountain McKay-Dee Hospital, and Intermountain Logan Regional Hospital.

The two additional cancer centers in Colorado are Intermountain St. Mary’s Medical Center in Grand Junction, accredited since 2018, and Intermountain Lutheran Medical Center in Wheat Ridge, accredited since 2016.

“The accreditation process is a very rigorous, multi-step process that took more than a year to complete,” said Craig Nielsen, director for radiation oncology at Intermountain Health. “We evaluated all our policies and procedures using objective, evidence-based performance measures in radiation oncology.”

APEx, is a voluntary process during which a radiation oncology practice is evaluated using consensus-based standards. Each cancer center must demonstrate its safety and quality process and show that it adheres to patient-centered care by promoting effective communication, coordinated treatments, and strong patient engagement.

“This accreditation demonstrates to our patients that we are committed to the highest standards of safety and quality in the practice of radiation oncology,” said Nielsen. “Patients receiving treatment at our centers can be assured they will receive the highest quality care and that our team will work closely with them as partners in their care.”

With less than 5% of cancer centers in the United States currently accredited, this is a unique and prestigious honor.

“We know that getting a cancer diagnosis can be one of the most difficult times for our patients,” Nielsen added. “It’s because of our patients and their families that our team has worked so diligently to earn this recognition and accreditation,” said Nielsen.

The national accreditation also recognizes that patients being treated at an Intermountain accredited facility have access to the most advanced cancer care that is delivered with compassion and coordination in a personalized approach from a specialized multidisciplinary team.

“ASTRO commends Intermountain Health’s cancer centers for achieving APEx accreditation,” said Laura A. Dawson, MD, chair of the ASTRO board of directors. “By undergoing this comprehensive review, these facilities demonstrate their strong commitment to delivering safe, high-quality radiation oncology services to their patients.”

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in seven states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 clinics, medical groups with some 3,900 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.