On May 10, 2017, the Siteman Cancer Center met the standards of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx), an independent radiation oncology practice accreditation program.

The four-year accreditation by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) is based on 16 evidence-based standards of radiation oncology practice. The 16 standards are focused on five areas: the process of care, the radiation oncology team, safety, quality management and patient-centered care.

The recognition by ASTRO’s Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx) covers all four Siteman locations.

ASTRO, which has more than 10,000 members worldwide, works to improve patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research and advocacy.

Accreditation through APEx is a voluntary, multi-step process that can take up to one year to complete. Each cancer center seeking APEx accreditation must have its policies and procedures evaluated using objective, verifiable expectations for performance in radiation oncology. A center also must demonstrate its commitment to high standards of safety and quality in the practice of radiation oncology and that it practices patient-centered care by promoting effective communication, coordinating treatment, and engaging patients and their families as partners in care.