Emory's Department of Radiation Oncology extends prestigious APEx accreditation

Emory University School of Medicine's Department of Radiation Oncology has earned the prestigious Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx) distinction from the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) for four Winship Cancer Institute locations. The facilities at Emory University Hospital, Emory University Hospital Midtown, and Emory Saint Joseph's Hospital first received the accreditation in 2019, and now all three are joined by Emory Decatur Hospital for another four-year term as APEx-accredited facilities.

APEx is an accreditation program created by ASTRO to promote evidence-backed systems, processes and policies that support quality improvement in radiation oncology practices. The accreditation process includes passing rigorous self-assessments and arranging site visits and interviews for additional performance reviews.

"This is the culmination of one and a half years of work reviewing our policy and procedures, performing a self-evaluation, and preparing for the site visit," says Ashish B. Patel, MD, MBA, associate professor and vice chair for quality and safety in the Department of Radiation Oncology, who spearheaded the effort to renew the accreditation. "Receiving this accreditation is an independent verification of our commitment to high-quality care delivery for our communities."

"This accomplishment is a testament to the extraordinarily strong team and deep culture of delivering exceptional patient care within our department, with every staff and faculty member playing a crucial role," says Reshma Jagsi, MD, DPhil, Lawrence W. Davis Professor and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology. "Special acknowledgment goes to Dr. Patel for leading the effort, along with our administrative leaders and managers, who were instrumental in the accreditation process."