Diablo Valley Oncology Receives Recognition for Cancer Care from Prestigious National Oncology Organization

PLEASANT HILL, Calif., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group (DVO) has become one of the first oncology practices in the nation to be recognized by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Program, an affiliate of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).   The QOPI® Certification Program is a new initiative to certify oncology practices that meet rigorous standards for high-quality cancer care.

"Our mission is to provide excellent oncology and blood disorder care to every patient - every day. To be recognized by these national organizations (ASCO and QOPI) is extremely gratifying," said Matthew Sirott, MD, the managing partner of Diablo Valley Oncology. "Also, some of our procedures exceeded ASCO's QOPI requirements and may be incorporated in future guidelines."  

"Increasingly educated patients and families demand accountability and the highest standards from cancer care providers," said Douglas W. Blayney, MD, immediate past president of ASCO. "The QOPI certification will allow oncologists in the community to be at the forefront of cancer care, and to be recognized for their quality. The Certification Program will help practices determine whether they are providing the best treatment and care possible to their patients, and demonstrates a commitment to excellence and ongoing quality improvement in the hematology-oncology outpatient practice."  

QOPI is a voluntary, self-assessment and improvement program launched by ASCO in 2006 to help hematology-oncology and medical oncology practices assess the quality of the care they provide to patients. Through the QOPI program, practices abstract data from patients' records up to twice per year and enter this information into a secure database. Diablo Valley Oncology is one of 5 in California who has currently received the inaugural certification (only site in SF East Bay Area). More than 650 oncology practices have registered in the QOPI program but only 59 have received the certification nationally.

QOPI analyzes individual practice data and compares these to more than 80 evidence-based and consensus quality measures. The information is then provided in reports to participating practices.  Individual practices are also able to compare their performance to data from other practices across the country. Based on this feedback, doctors and practices can identify areas for improvement.  

The QOPI Certification Program provides a three-year certification for outpatient hematology-oncology practices that meet standards for quality cancer care.

SOURCE Diablo Valley Oncology/Hematology Medical Group