ASTRO's APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence® was developed by radiation oncology professionals to recognize facilities that deliver safe, high-quality care to their patients. Use the APEx readiness checklist to start your accreditation journey.
Why APEx Accreditation?
Ninety-eight percent of APEx-accredited facilities have stated, in a program satisfaction survey, that they were 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with the APEx process AND that they would recommend the program to colleagues.
- APEx serves as a partner and ally to radiation oncology practices.
- Practices are able to leverage APEx Standards to improve their practice and processes.
- APEx uncovers potential blind spots in processes like QA, peer review and documentation.
- Practices are able to achieve safe and appropriate staffing levels.
What are the benefits of being an accredited facility?
The
flexibility of APEx, including three- or four-year cycles and in-person or virtual options, means that it fits a practice’s needs. Specifically, the program:
- Distinguishes your practice from others in your community.
- 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).
For questions about APEx, please email APEx Support or request an information session.
Are you interested in finding out more about APEx Accreditation? Check out:
Next steps
Schedule a one-on-one session with ASTRO staff to discover the ways APEx can benefit your practice. It's free and takes less than an hour. Also, take advantage of a template itinerary, draft presentation and leadership letter to assist with speaking to your practice about APEx.
Are you interested in transitioning to APEx from another radiation oncology accrediting body? You can request a teleconference with a knowledgeable radiation oncology professional from your chosen discipline by completing the peer-to-peer request form. This meeting will allow you to hear from your colleagues who have completed the APEx process. You can ask specific questions and learn from their experiences.
Partners in Quality and Safety
ASTRO is proud to partner with the entire radiation oncology team to improve quality and safety for patients and staff. While every member contributes to high-quality outcomes, physicists play a pivotal role in radiation oncology practices. Along with other members of the patient care team, physicists assure the accurate delivery of all aspects of the treatment plan; oversee radiation safety; and implement, maintain and monitor advanced radiation treatment technologies. Given the breadth and level of work they do, it’s easy to see why physicists often lead or play key roles in practice accreditation. Visit APEx and Physicists to learn more about how APEx can help physicists enhance their current systems and processes.
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“At Washington University and the Barnes-Jewish Hospital system, we are glad we engaged ASTRO to accomplish our practice accreditation through the APEx process. While we always have prided our organizations as delivering the safest and highest quality care, we discovered opportunities to improve our processes, upgrade our policies, and increase our system-wide integration. Every year we onboard new physicians, physicists and staff that for which the accreditation has helped establish a strong basis for learning our approach to care. Our recent re-accreditation reminded everyone to work towards our patient-centered, safety-focused culture."
— Jeff Michalski, MD, MBA, FASTRO
Washington University and Barnes-Jewish Hospital
ASTRO President
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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.