Cancer Treatment Center

Robert Pfeffer, M.D. and Tom Weiner, M.D.

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons in 2007 recognized St. Peter’s Cancer Treatment Center as offering high-quality cancer care. Only one in four cancer programs at hospitals across the United States receives this special approval.

The Commission recently granted Three-Year Approval with Commendation to the Cancer Program at St. Peter’s. The commendation recognizes the Hospital’s quality of comprehensive patient care and commitment to provide the community with access to all of the various medical specialists involved in diagnosing and treating cancer

The St. Peter’s Cancer Treatment Center received the accreditation following an on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the Hospital demonstrated a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program. In addition, St. Peter’s received a compliance rating for all other standards.

Receiving care at a commission-approved cancer program ensures that a patient will have access to comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment; a multi-specialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options; information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options; access to caner-related information, education, and support; a cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up; ongoing monitoring and improvement of care; and quality care close to home.

Established in 1922 by the American Cancer of Surgeons, the Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-stetting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive, quality care. Its membership includes Fellows of the American College of Surgeons and 42 national organizations that reflect the full spectrum of cancer care.

The core functions of the commission include setting standards for quality, multidisciplinary patient care; surveying facilities to evaluate compliance with the 36 commission standards; collecting standardized and quality data from approved facilities; and using the data to develop effective educational interventions to improve care outcomes at the national, state, and local level.

For more information about the Commission, visit www.facs.org/cancer/index.html.

The Cancer Treatment Center is an outpatient treatment unit located within St Peter's Hospital. The Cancer Center focuses on the patient by promoting optimal quality care in the delivery of Radiation, Oncology and Medical Oncology services.
The Cancer Treatment Center at St. Peter's Hospital is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate, high quality care to patients in our community. Our staff of professionals has the high degree of skill and training required in caring for cancer patients.
We focus on a team approach, attempting to treat the "whole" person, not just the disease. In addition to the highly skilled physicians, nurses, and technologists within the Cancer Treatment Center, we utilize other professionals such as social services, dietetics, physical therapy, home health services, hospice, etc.
Our physicians have joined the Montana Cancer Consortium, a group that allows us to participate in national clinical cancer trials approved by the National Cancer Institute. These are the same trials that are often available at universities and major medical centers.

How To Get More Information on Cancer
The Cancer Resource Library has books, pamphlets, video tapes and other resources if you need information about cancer. Many of the pamphlets are free from the National Cancer Institute. You are invited to stop by the Cancer Resource Library within the Cancer Treatment Center and view materials Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
For more information please contact:
Bob Gomes at 406-447-2816 or email - bgomes@stpetes.org

Cancer Library
Cancer Survivors Celebration (photos)

Annual Cancer Reports
2004
2005
2006
2007