A national organization rates cancer services in southern Illinois as among the best in the nation.
The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has rated cancer services through Memorial Hospital of Carbondale as one of the top 75 accredited programs in the U.S.
SIH Cancer Institute system director Jennifer Badiu says the hospital's cancer services have been accredited by the commission since 1954. But, she says this is the first time they've been able to meet the seven standards of commendation and all the program standards. Badiu attributes this to outstanding physician involvement.
"For example, if you have breast cancer, you're going to have your plan created by the surgeon, the medical oncologist, radiation oncologist, there's palliative care physicians available. We look at nurse navigation, clinical trials, really trying to treat the whole patient and developing that personalized treatment plan."
Badiu says the recently opened SIH Cancer Institute in Carterville brings the once-fragmented parts of the provider-based hospital service under one roof.