For Immediate Release

6/21/06

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons Features The Center for Cancer Care of Goshen Health System

Paulette Brown Presents at American College of Surgeons Quality Conference

Goshen, Ind. - The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons featured Paulette Brown, Vice President of Operations at Goshen Health System during its conference in Chicago yesterday. The conference program titled The Commission on Cancer 2006 and Beyond: Measuring the Quality of Your Cancer Care focused on methods for measuring the quality of care delivered by cancer programs throughout the United States.

"It is an honor to share and to teach the methods we have developed at the Center for Cancer Care," said Brown. "Our goal is to give our patients and their families the best cancer care available. To be asked to join a panel of experts from all over the nation who are working towards the same goal is exciting."

Brown went on, "The Center for Cancer Care was chosen to present at the conference because our quality improvement initiatives were considered 'Best Practice' by the Commission on Cancer."

In 2004 The Center for Cancer Care earned a full approval with five commendations from the Commission on Cancer. In 2005 the cancer center earned two additional commendations and received the highest designation, the Outstanding Achievement Award.

The two-day conference was held at the Hilton Chicago. Conference attendees included physicians and multidisciplinary cancer program staff from all over the nation as well as hospital administrators, healthcare executives, and patient safety/satisfaction and quality assurance professionals. Focus on other quality topics included the elimination of health disparities in cancer, clinical trials and data driven quality initiatives using data from the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).

The Commission on Cancer is dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.

Goshen Health System is a not-for-profit provider of health care that includes Goshen General Hospital, The Center for Cancer Care, Park Home Medical Equipment, PrimeCare Physician Network, Team:Bariatrics, The Retreat Women's Health Center and Indiana Lakes Managed Care Organization. The health system is an affiliate partner of Clarian Health, which includes Indiana University Hospital, Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis and Riley Hospital for Children. For more information about Goshen Health System, contact Public Relations Coordinator, at 574/535-2776 or visit its Web site at www.goshenhealth.com.