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MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s rectal cancer program has been reaccredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) of the American College of Surgeons (ACS).
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the only healthcare facility in Washington, DC, to earn the distinction. Regionally, the only other accredited program is at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center, our sister hospital, which earned accreditation in October 2024.
NARPC accreditation focuses on factors that lead to better outcomes for patients. It emphasizes nearly two dozen standards focused on ensuring patients get the best team-based care for rectal cancer.
Site reviewers from the ACS conduct in-person and/or virtual visits to dive deep into the data that explores important elements of our program, including:
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Program management: Verifying that the team and the program are led by qualified personnel
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Clinical services: Making sure patients get the right care without delays
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Quality improvement: Ensuring the program uses data to improve efficiency, standardize care, and improve patient outcomes
Reviewers analyze these standards every three years to determine whether rectal cancer programs meet these high standards. At MedStar Washington Hospital Center, we first earned this distinction in 2021 and again in 2024.
NAPRC accreditation reinforces MedStar’s commitment to patient care and sets he example for high-quality care in the community, leading the way in helping patients get advanced treatment for complex rectal cancers.
Related reading: 7 Facts About Colorectal Cancer That Could Save Your Life.
Focus on what matters to patients.
NARPC accreditation marks the program as a center of excellence, where patients’ treatment plans are mapped out by a team of experts, using the most up-to-date and evidence-based strategies to manage their care. The rectal cancer program communicates closely with referring providers, and any other specialists involved in patient care.
These individualized treatment plans enable minimally invasive surgical techniques in addition to radiation and chemotherapy. Patients treated at NAPRC centers expect improved outcomes with higher survival rates and better preservation of bodily function.
Patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center have access to clinical trials. These research studies allow patients to have access to leading treatments. When patients participate in these trials, they advance understanding of rectal cancer while getting access to leading treatments before they’re available to the public.
Related reading: Food for Thought: What We Eat Affects Colorectal Cancer Risk.
Accredited programs deliver better patient outcomes.
A study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons found that NAPRC-accredited hospitals demonstrate significantly better outcomes for patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery than other hospitals.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center treats a higher volume of rectal cancer and more complex cases than any other provider in the area.
We are proud to be accredited by NAPRC, and even prouder of what our hard work means for our patients each day. When it comes to rectal cancer, high quality care translates to more years of survival and a better quality of life for our patients.
