Jackson VA Recognized for Excellence in Radiation Oncology

G. V. (Sonny) Montgomery VA Medical Center (GVSMVAMC) earned national recognition for the quality of cancer care provided to Mississippi Veterans by receiving the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO)'s Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx) Accreditation. With less than 5% of cancer centers in the U.S. currently accredited, this is a unique and prestigious honor. The accreditation program, focuses specifically on five pillars of patient care: the process of care, the radiation oncology team, safety, quality management, and patient-centered care.

G.V. Sonny Montgomery VA Medical Center is the first in Mississippi to achieve accreditation through ASTRO’s APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence.

“We are extremely pleased to be awarded the APEx accreditation. We are proud of the efforts of all of our staff to provide the absolute pinnacle of care to our Veterans and are appreciative of the recognition we have received from ASTRO,” said Kai D. Mentzer, GVSMVAMC Medical Center Director.

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

Mentzer added, “Our facility has demonstrated the practices of ASTRO and plan to continue to engage them in the care of our Veterans.”