Accredited since 1938

Albany, NY

Albany Med has been accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) since 1938, and we are proud to say that we are one of the oldest accredited sites in the country. We treat more than 2,700 new cancer patients annually and are regionally known for our care in every type of cancer. In the area of northeastern New York that we serve, there are certain programs only offered at Albany Med, including pediatric oncology, central nervous system tumors—both benign and cancerous, and complicated hematologic malignancies, such as acute leukemia. 

Being part of the CoC for so many years has created an environment of transformation and innovation at our institution because it has enabled us to stay up-to-date on changes in the delivery of oncology care and be aware of how those changes impact patient care. For example, many years ago due to CoC guidelines, we created multidisciplinary tumor boards that fostered improved communication about patients and enriched our community outreach and internal quality improvement. These requirements have created a framework where our institution approved the hiring of a social worker. Because of this, we now have a survivorship committee and are able to enhance our psychosocial support and outreach. Since 2018 we have offered more than $21,000 of financial assistance to patients. We also have increased community outreach by hosting annual dermatologic screening events, creating public service announcements regarding cancer screening and prevention through social media, and supporting local fundraisers and events for various cancers. 

In short, the CoC guidelines that we follow force us to examine our practices every year and to be better than the year before. They give us insight into other institutions and allow us to grow. The CoC, in our minds, creates the standards for which we need to hold ourselves accountable and pushes us to not just check boxes but to surpass expectations. It has ensured that when patients come to Albany Med they are receiving without a doubt the best multidisciplinary care in the region. 

Visit Albany Med to learn more about their program.