NORTHAMPTON – After submitting 60 medical records for quality assurance review and undergoing an onsite interview, Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s Radiation Oncology program has earned accreditation by the American College of Radiology, a national organization serving more than 32,000 diagnostic and interventional radiologists, radiation oncologists and nuclear medicine and medical physicists

"Accreditation by the ACR demonstrates we are exceeding quality assurance protocols in our field," Craig Hansen, manager of Radiation Oncology, says.

Adds Hansen, "Cooley Dickinson Hospital offers state-of-the-art radiation therapy treatment, and with the ACR accreditation we have independent validation of our compliance with national standards of excellence in the field of radiation therapy."

The radiation oncology team at Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Christine, who asked that she be identified by her first name, says the Radiation Oncology staff were very professional about addressing some concerns that came up during her treatment. "There was information I needed clarified and they responded immediately and made me feel confident and reassured about the whole process," says the Franklin County resident.

"But what made the experience so great for me was the warmth of the people in the program, Dr. Linda Bornstein and her whole staff. They were professional but they were also there with great emotional support. What a difference that made for me."

The Radiation Oncology program is part of Cooley Dickinson's Cancer Care program. Radiation oncology therapy is one phase of a multidisciplinary approach to treating a patient living with a cancer diagnosis.

Cooley Dickinson's Radiation Oncology program is accredited through August 2013.

Based in Reston, Virginia, ACR is a national organization that focuses on the practice of medical imaging and radiation oncology and the delivery of comprehensive health care services.