Caen, 26th June 2020. The François Baclesse Cancer Centre has been accredited a ‘Comprehensive Cancer Centre’ by the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), to become the 5th French cancer centre to obtain this seal of excellence.
Such acknowledgement of quality is exclusively reserved for multidisciplinary cancer institutes, integrating cancer care, research and training. Only healthcare establishments capable of justifying a large number of medical and technical skills, including clinical research and translational research, are eligible for accreditation as Comprehensive Cancer Centres. Both excellence and quality in patient care, at each step of the care path, together with access to innovation, are commended by this label.
This European accreditation, valid for a 5-year period, is the product of an approach towards continuous improvement, which is integrated within the François Baclesse Cancer Centre’s Establishment Project. It offers the Centre international exposure, propitious to the development of new research projects and interaction, for the benefit of its patients.
For the Centre’s Director, Professor Marc-André Mahé, ‘this new international recognition for the François Baclesse Cancer Centre’s quality policy highlights once more the commitment of its entire staff, all of whom share the same vocation to provide excellence to serve its patients.’ Dr Fabienne Divanon, President of the CME (the centre’s medical committee) specifies that ‘OECI accreditation is exclusively reserved for cancer care establishments; it certifies the François Baclesse Cancer Centre’s three mainstays, i.e. healthcare, research and training. Such recognition has placed our Centre among the European centres of expertise in oncology.’ Finally, Dr Laurence Pic, Director of Quality and Risk Management, adds, ‘once more, the know-how and the specifities of the François Baclesse Cancer Centre have been acknowledged,’ reiterating that, ‘last March, the Centre became the first French healthcare establishment to obtain European certification in breast cancer care (Eusoma), and late 2019, we were awarded level A certification, without the slightest deviation, by the HAS (French National Authority for Health).’
‘This international accreditation has placed the François Baclesse Cancer Centre as a recognised French stakeholder and a driving force in cancer research to serve patients. Such acknowledgment also valorises the Centre’s involvement in cancer education and training, both for students and qualified healthcare professionals,’ adds Pr. Florence Joly, the Centre’s Scientific Director.
For the Medical Director, Dr Marie-Pierre Galais, ‘this is excellent recognition of the quality of healthcare implemented here for many years now, and offered to all of our patients.’ Sandrine Benoit, Nursing Director highlights that this has been made possible, ‘thanks to the expertise offered by our healthcare professionals, whom we wish to sincerely thank for their day-to-day commitment and their will to build tomorrow’s cancer care, together.’
About the OECI
The OECI is a non-profit, non-governmental organisation founded in Vienna in 1979. The OECI promotes cooperation between European Cancer Institues, in order to reduce disparities in healthcare and to provide all European patients suffering from cancer optimal quality throughout their care path.
Hence, the OECI contributes towards structuring cancer care in Europe and has developed an accreditation reference document specifically designed for cancer care.
Half of the 92 OECI member centres are committed to maintaining this quality accreditation process.
21 have been certified ‘Comprehensive Cancer Centres’ and 17 ‘Clinical Cancer Centres’.
The Comprehensive Cancer Centre accreditation procedure studies a centre’s entire multidisciplinary approach, which integrates Care, Education / Training and Research. The audit reference document covers a vast number of themes:
- Centre management and coordinaiton: strategic plan, organisation, targets and monitoring, dashboard & indicators, activity reports, etc.;
- Collaborations and agreements concluded with external national and international partners and universities;
- Integrated approach and care-research continuum: clinical research, translational research and transfer organisation, links with fundamental research;
- Patient care path: diagnosis, quality of care, monitoring of waiting times, traceability and management of complications, healthcare continuity, supportive care, etc.;
- Pluridisciplinary care: multidisciplinary meeting organisation and quality, link with healthcare reference documents, assessment of healthcare practice (activity report, indicators, audit, etc.); medication (prescription, preparation and administration of anti-cancer drugs);
- Quality, risk and safety management: general policy, documentary system, adverse event management, feedback, assessment (indicators, internal audits, complaints management, patient satisfaction survey, etc.) action plans, etc.;
- Sanitary democracy: patient empowerment, patient information and autonomy (therapeutic education for example);
- Healthcare student training and university study;
- Healthcare professional skills: capacitations, cancer care skills development and maintenance;
- Non-smoking policy within the establishment;
- Information system with data protection and safeguarding of confidentiality.
Press contact: Sophie TAILLARD, communication executive – [email protected]
About the François Baclesse Cancer Centre
The François Baclesse Cancer Centre is one of 18 French cancer centres. A private health institute of public interest (ESPIC) and member of Unicancer, activity at the François Baclesse Cancer Centre focuses entirely on cancer diagnosis and treatment. The centre also assures a mission of cancer research and education. The François Baclesse Cancer Centre cares for around 27,300 patients per year, among whom 7,345 new patients. It employs a staff of 1,000 professionals, including 137 physicians and researchers and hosts around 600 medical and paramedical students every year. The Centre boasts a Radiotherapy department which is among the 3 most comprehensive of its kind in France and, since July 2018, proposes protontherapy, together with the largest offer of supportive care options in France.
As a stakeholder in public hospital services, the François Baclesse Cancer Centre applies neither private sector fees nor fee enhancement, but exclusivley standard social security fees. A public interest establishment, it may receive donations and legacies, totally exempt from taxation.
About Unicancer
Unicancer is the unique French hospital network 100% devoted to fighting cancer and is the only national hospital federation devoted to cancer care. It reunites 18 Cancer Centres (CLCCs), private non-profit healthcare establishments, located on 20 hospital sites across France. CLCCs care for around 540,000 patients every year (short stay, home-based care or external procedures).
Unicancer is also the leading European academic promoter of clinical trials in oncology, with 90 ongoing clinical trials promoted, including around 6,500 patients + 55,000 patients listed in the ESME database. Acknowledged as the French leader in research, the Unicancer network boasts an international reputation via the production of a third of international-scale French publications in oncology (source: Thomson Reuters / bibliometric study). A total of around 600 clinical trials (inclusions or follow-up) were promoted in 2018 by the Unicancer network, over 15% of CLCC patients are included in clinical trials and over half of PHRCs (hospital clinical research programmes) allocated to CLCCs.
Unicancer’s 18 CLCCs and R&D management department are certified ISO:2015 for their clinical research.