Tri-Cities hospital gets 1st accreditation in WA for 1 type of cancer treatment

Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland has earned the first accreditation in the state of Washington for a rectal cancer program and one of only 33 accreditations across the nation.

The voluntary accreditation was granted by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.

Kadlec demonstrated it met standards for program management, clinical services and quality improvement.

It also offered required services, including antigen testing, MRIs and CT imaging for cancer staging that allows patients to start treatment at the best time.

The accreditation will be reviewed every three years.

Colorectal cancer often starts with a growth called a polyp, including in the rectum. Finding and removing polyps with a colonoscopy can prevent cancer from developing.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer in adults in the United States and cases and deaths are increasing in people ages 20 to 49, according to the National Cancer Institute.