Quality of Care
What Do Other Experts Say About You?
National Cancer Institute designation
Vanderbilt-Ingram has been one of a select few National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers since 1995 and one of only 41 achieving the NCI’s highest distinction, as a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), since 2001.
To achieve designation as Comprehensive Cancer Center, a rigorous evaluation must find the center to be among the nation’s leaders in all types of cancer research, treatment, prevention, and outreach/education. They must demonstrate strength, depth, innovation and commitment in these areas:
- Basic research in the laboratory
- Translational research that takes discoveries from the lab to clinical care
- Clinical research including patient studies called clinical trials
- Cancer prevention research and programs
- Cancer information services
- Community education and outreach
- Training of the next generation of physicians, researchers, nurses and other cancer professionals
In addition, the NCI’s Cancer Advisory Board, appointed by the President of the United States, must recommend approval for comprehensive designation. Centers must report their progress and activities every year, and are thoroughly re-evaluated every three to five years to ensure that these strict standards continue to be met.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network
The Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center was recently invited to join the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN), a non-profit alliance of 21 of the world’s leading cancer centers that have joined together to improve the quality of care for cancer patients everywhere.
Other distinctions and accreditations
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center and Vanderbilt Medical Center hold a number of other distinctions, accreditations and affiliations that relate to the depth, breadth and quality of our expertise in cancer treatment, research, prevention and education.
- Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organization
- American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
- American Nurses Credentialing Center Magnet Recognition Program
- U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” and “Best Children’s Hospitals”
- National Marrow Donor Program affiliate
- American Association of Cancer Institutes
- Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (blood and bone marrow transplant program)
- Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendment (blood and bone marrow transplant program)
- NCI program for Phase I and Phase II clinical trials
- Three NCI Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (lung, colon and breast cancer)
