AHN Cancer Institute Achieves Radiation Oncology Services Accreditation From ASTRO's APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence

Colin Champ, MD

Allegheny Health Network Cancer Institute’s (AHNCI) Radiation Oncology program recently attained accreditation from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence® for all 13 of its radiation oncology facilities.

APEx provides external validation that a radiation oncology facility delivers high-quality, safe patient care. AHN is the only health care provider in Western Pennsylvania to achieve the APEx accreditation for its radiation oncology program.

"Receiving ASTRO’s APEx Accreditation Program for Excellence is a testament to the unwavering dedication of our radiation oncology team at the AHN Cancer Institute,” said Colin Champ, MD, chair of radiation oncology. “We’ve invested in evaluating every aspect of our processes to meet ASTRO’s rigorous standards for safety and quality, ensuring our patients receive the highest level of care. This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence in cancer treatment.”

All 13 of AHN’s radiation oncology locations received full accreditation. Locations include Allegheny General Hospital, Allegheny Valley Hospital, AHNCI Beaver, AHNCI Butler, Forbes Hospital, AHNCI Hempfield, Jefferson Hospital, Peters Township, Saint Vincent (Erie), West Penn Hospital, Wexford Hospital, and contracted facilities at Armstrong County Memorial Hospital (ACMH), Clarion Hospital, and Tony Teramana Cancer Center at Trinity Health System in Steubenville, Ohio.

The accreditation is valid for four years through June 2027.

AHN initially received this accreditation in 2019 for its 10 radiation oncology locations open at the time. Since then, AHN Cancer Institute has expanded to offer radiation oncology services in Beaver, Butler, Hempfield, and Saint Vincent.

APEx, the fastest-growing radiation oncology practice accreditation program in the United States, is a voluntary multi-step process during which a radiation oncology practice is evaluated objectively using consensus-based standards. The practice must demonstrate its safety and quality processes and show that it adheres to patient-centered care by promoting effective communication, coordinated treatments, and strong patient engagement.

"ASTRO commends AHN Cancer Institute for achieving reaccreditation through APEx," said Geraldine M. Jacobson, MD, MPH, MBA, FASTRO, chair of the ASTRO Board of Directors. "By undergoing this comprehensive review, the facility demonstrated their ongoing commitment to delivering safe, high-quality radiation oncology services to their patients."

APEx is the only radiation oncology accreditation program that includes a self-assessment, which allows practices to internally assess compliance with quality improvement standards. The practice then proceeds to a facility review by an external surveyor team that includes a radiation oncologist and a medical physicist. The program reflects the recommendations endorsed in the ASTRO publication Safety is No Accident: A Framework for Quality Radiation Oncology and Care. To date, more than 250 U.S. facilities have earned APEx accreditation. Learn more about APEx at www.astro.org/APEx.