Latest News!
Are you interest in finding out more about the APEx Program? Check out the Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx): A Catalyst for Quality Improvement in Practical Radiation Oncology, review the APEx readiness checklist and schedule a one-on-one session to discover the ways APEx can benefit your practice.
2021 ASTRO Annual Meeting Session
At the 2021 ASTRO Annual Meeting, Drs. Jean Wright (Johns Hopkins), Colleen Lawton (Froedtert and Medical College of Wisconsin) and Christin Knowlton (Yale) shared their experiences going through ASTRO’s APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence while explaining the unique qualities and benefits of the program for radiation oncology practices.
APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence
® was developed by radiation oncology professionals from the world’s premier radiation oncology society to recognize facilities that deliver safe, high-quality care to their patients. Radiation oncology practices that earn accreditation through APEx demonstrate the systems, personnel, policies and procedures needed to meet
APEx Standards. Learn why APEx is The Right Choice™.
Why APEx Accreditation?
| Radiation Oncology Accreditation Program Comparison |
APEx |
ACR¤ |
ACRO* |
| 3- and 4- year accreditation cycle options |
x |
|
x |
| Built on the tenets of Safety is No Accident |
x |
|
|
| Requisite Self-Assessment for a practice-specific gap analysis before the on-site survey |
x |
|
|
| Provides a team-based structure for practice-wide assessment and improvement |
x |
|
|
| Transparent accreditation scoring criteria allowing for self-scoring |
x |
|
|
| Facility visit is completed on the same day for all locations |
x |
|
x |
| Radiation oncologists and medical physicists conduct the facility visit |
x |
x |
|
| Partial payment option |
x |
|
|
| Accrediting body for Veterans Affairs radiation oncology practices |
x |
|
|
*Based on the 2021 ACRO Accreditation Manual
¤Based on the ACR 'Complete Accreditation Information: Radiation Oncology' website - accessed 12/15/21
What are the benefits of being an accredited facility?
- The flexibility of the APEx program, including three- or four-year cycles and payment options, means that it fits a practice’s needs.
- Provides patients and caregivers with additional evidence of your facility's focus on safety.
- Satisfies the American Board of Radiology’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 4 requirements with the APEx PQI Template.
- Fulfills the radiation therapy component for the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
- Meets 15 improvement activities in MIPS.
For questions about APEx, please email APEx Support or request an information session.
|
"We selected APEx because we viewed their accreditation structure as a vehicle to improve our practice quality. Meeting the APEx Standards has been a valuable process for every aspect of our workflow and improved our quality and coordination of care."
—Geraldine Jacobson, MD, MPH, MBA
|