Inova Schar Cancer Institute Radiation Oncology Achieves Four-Year Accreditation for Radiation Oncology Services from ASTRO’s APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence®

Falls Church, VA – Inova is proud to announce that all five radiation oncology departments within the Inova Schar Cancer Institute (ISCI) have been reaccredited by the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) for APEx – Accreditation Program for Excellence^®. APEx is an accreditation program developed by ASTRO that validates a radiation oncology facility’s excellence in delivering high quality patient care. ISCI’s departments of radiation oncology were previously the first radiation oncology practices in the world to receive this accreditation.

Accreditation through APEx is a voluntary and rigorous multistep process during which a facility’s practices are evaluated using consensus-based standards. The center must demonstrate its safety and quality processes and demonstrate that it adheres to patient-centered care by promoting effective communication, coordinated treatments and strong patient engagement.

“APEx is truly the gold standard for radiation oncology accreditation in the country, and this recognition solidifies ISCI’s commitment to delivering the highest quality, safest care possible,” said Ashish K. Chawla, MD, Chairman and Medical Director, Department of Advanced Radiation Oncology and Proton Therapy, ISCI. “We are especially proud of the fact that all five of our Inova Schar Cancer Institute departments – Fairfax, Fair Oaks, Loudoun, Alexandria and the Potomac Radiation Oncology Center in Woodbridge – were simultaneously accredited. Patients can be confident that they will receive world-class radiation oncology care at any of our departments, with convenient locations available to them throughout Northern Virginia.”

The APEx accreditation process includes a facility self-assessment as well as a comprehensive, onsite facility review by a radiation oncologist and a medical physicist. The program reflects the recommendations endorsed in the ASTRO publication Safety Is No Accident: A Framework for Quality Radiation Oncology and Care.

“We are pleased to receive APEx accreditation from ASTRO, the largest radiation oncology society in the world,” said John Deeken, MD, President, Inova Schar Cancer Institute. “Our entire radiation oncology team was invested in evaluating our processes to meet ASTRO’s high standards for safety and quality. Securing APEx accreditation serves to reinforce our commitment to deliver consistent patient-centered cancer care.”

“ASTRO commends Inova Schar Cancer Institute for achieving APEx accreditation. By undergoing this comprehensive review, the facility has demonstrated a strong commitment to delivering safe, high quality radiation oncology services to their patients,” said Thomas J. Eichler, MD, FASTRO, Chair of ASTRO’s board of directors.

To date, more than 170 U.S. facilities have earned APEx accreditation. Learn more about APEx at www.astro.org/apex.

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About Inova

Inova is Northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider. Our mission is to provide world-class healthcare – every time, every touch – to each person in every community we have the privilege to serve. Inova’s 19,000 team members serve more than 2 million individuals annually through an integrated network of hospitals, primary and specialty care practices, emergency and urgent care centers, outpatient services, and destination institutes.  

Inova’s five hospitals are consistently recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), U.S. News & World Report Best Hospitals and Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grades for excellence in healthcare.

Inova is home to Northern Virginia’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Level 4 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Its hospitals have a total of 1,936 licensed beds. More information and statistics about Inova can be found at inova.org.