For Immediate Release
December 10, 2003
Contact: Maria E. Ramos
(219) 865-2141, ext. 45321
Maria.Ramos@ssfhs.org

HAMMOND, Ind. – The Radiation Oncology Center at Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Centers received accreditation from the American College of Radiology (ACR) following a recent survey. Physician and physicist members of the accredited Oncology Center are board-certified radiation oncologist Dr. Urmi P. Kalokhe and medical physicist Dr. Renate Muller-Runkel.

The ACR Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation Committee previously granted a full three-year accreditation to Saint Margaret Mercy’s Oncology Center in Hammond, Ind. in 2000. The center is now accredited until 2006. Saint Margaret Mercy’s Radiation Oncology Center is the only radiation oncology facility in the Chicagoland area and in Lake and Porter counties in Indiana to receive accreditation by the ACR.

The college awards accreditation to a radiation oncology group for the achievement of high practice standards after a voluntary survey. Dr. Kalokhe and the hospital administration jointly agreed to invite the ACR for the survey, to benchmark the quality of services the Radiation Oncology department provides.

“The ACR accreditation provides a high level of confidence for patients, referring physicians and managed care organizations that only the highest quality care is being provided by Saint Margaret Mercy’s Oncology Center,” Dr. Kalokhe said.

Board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are members of the ACR and experts in the field conduct the survey. The surveyors assess the quality of work performed by physicians and medical physicists, as well as staff efficiency, quality assessment and improvement activities including peer review, and the adequacy of space and equipment. Findings are reported to the ACR’s Committee on Accreditation, which subsequently provides the radiation oncology group with a comprehensive report.

ACR is a national organization serving more than 32,000 radiologists, radiation oncologists and medical physicists. Programs focus on the practice of radiation oncology and radiology, and defining standards to promote the delivery of quality radiologic health services.