Certification Confirms Cancer Care Commitment

It's a fancy title - the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI) Certification Program. 

But, it signifies a basic roll-up-the sleeves, take it to the limit commitment to providing cancer care that's beyond the norm, or the normal.

The Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center has earned QOPI recertification - it's third - for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet nationally recognized standards.  

Administered by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), QOPI is a voluntary self-assessment and improvement program to help hematology-oncology and medical oncology practices assess the quality of the care they provide to patients.

"We are doing our job better than the other cancer centers", says Mete Korkmaz, Doctor of Medical Hematology and Oncology at the Patricia D. Pepe Center for Cancer Care at OSF HealthCare Saint Anthony Medical Center. "We have certain standards, we've met those standards. We are up-to-date in our knowledge - that's the most important part. We are up-to-date about the clinical trials and we offer better service to our patients." 

Korkmaz says though QOPI is voluntary, it's not easy to acquire. And while recertification is every three years, ASCO constantly monitors QOPI designation hospitals to make sure the quality of care remains at their standards. 

Korkmaz says it's a total team effort and a lot of hard work - so, why do it? 

"I believe the better patient care," Says Dr. Korkmaz."You know, if I serve my patient better, I can sleep better - that's the reality. Honestly, I don't need to wake up in the middle of the night - 'did I forget something else'? Meaning that somebody confirmed that I'm doing a great job."

Korkmaz says less than 20 hospitals in Illinois are QOPI certified and fewer that 30-percent of US medical centers claim the designation. 

To learn more, go to www.osfhealthcare.org/saint-anthony/services/cancer/