COOPERATION. Recently, an important step was taken on the Sahlgrenska Cancer Center’s path towards being accredited as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. The organization that decides on the accreditation, OECI, made a physical site visit on 23 February, where the auditors stated that SCC had come a long way.
The establishment of the Sahlgrenska Cancer Center (SCC) at Sahlgrenska University Hospital has been ongoing since 2020. The SCC strengthens the collaboration between the hospital’s various activities within cancer, and will also have a close collaboration with the research. A special research council has already begun its work of leading coordination and collaboration within the cancer research conducted by Sahlgrenska Academy and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. SCC plans to invite to an open information meeting on April 27, 2022.
Interviews and tour
On 23 February, another step was taken towards accreditation as the Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), when representatives from the Organization of European Cancer Insitutes (OECI) visited Sahlgrenska University Hospital. This physical audit was a follow-up to the digital one carried out in June last year. The OECI is responsible for the accreditation of hospitals that want to become a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The auditors from the OECI conducted interviews with various groups within SCC, such as management, research councils, quality and patient safety, nurses in clinical work and in the area of Prevention. They also interviewed SCC’s patient council, for the day supplemented with patients who receive, or have recently completed their treatment within SCC. In the afternoon, a tour of the hospital was made.
Strong commitment
After the day, the auditors highlighted SCC’s competent employees as a great strength, with special emphasis on the work of gathering cancer care. Motivated employees who give honest and straightforward answers to the interviews are described as a great strength.
Other strengths, in addition to what has already been established during the digital audit, are the management’s great commitment and the successful work of working towards an increasingly cohesive and strong cancer center. The auditors also point out SCC’s stable basis for preventive and health-promoting work. Teledermatology also pointed out in particular as a strength of this visit.
Next step
At some point in the coming months, information is expected if the OECI considers that the SCC is ready for accreditation, to a Comprehensive Cancer Center.
In the meantime, SCC will continue with the improvement work that began in the autumn of 2021. At that time, action plans were drawn up for development and future quality improvements in 10 different areas. The focus in the future will be on the implementation and activation of established plans.
In parallel with this work, under the leadership of the chairman of SCC Claes Jönsson, work is also underway to ensure management, development and sustainability over time for the current SCC, and the hopefully future SCCC.
BY: SAHLGRENSKA CANCER CENTER, VGR / ELIN LINDSTRÖM
