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Contact: Sarah Bello

Radiation Oncology department recognized for highest level of radiation therapy quality and safety

The CMH-OHSU Knight Cancer Collaborative was awarded a three-year term of accreditation in radiation oncology as the result of a recent review by the American College of Radiology (ACR). The voluntary accreditation is effective through 11/30/2025.

“It was a multi-year process to achieve this accreditation, and there were many people involved,” says Chris Laman, CMH vice president of strategy. “While everyone has played a role, we want to recognize Dr. Pehr Hartvigson, radiation oncologist, Jenni Fisher, physicist, and Melissa Bilyeu, radiation oncology supervisor, who dedicated so many hours to get us to this point. We are grateful for their efforts to ensure we provide the highest level of care.”

The ACR is the nation’s oldest and most widely accepted radiation oncology accrediting body, with over 700 accredited sites, and 30 years of accreditation experience. The ACR seal of accreditation represents the highest level of quality and patient safety.

“It’s a great honor. I think that it helps to further affirm the quality that the team delivers here in Astoria, and I’m very proud of the fact that we can bring such high quality care out to our North Coast community out here,” Hartvigson says. “It wouldn’t be possible without the contributions and help from every member on the team.”

Since opening more than five years ago, the Cancer Collaborative has treated hundreds of patients with both medical and radiation oncology. Radiation oncology (radiation therapy) is the careful use of high-energy radiation to treat cancer. A radiation oncologist may use radiation to cure cancer or to relieve a cancer patient’s pain.

ACR accreditation is awarded only to facilities meeting specific Practice Guidelines and Technical Standards developed by ACR after a peer-review evaluation by board-certified radiation oncologists and medical physicists who are experts in the field. Patient care and treatment, patient safety, personnel qualifications, adequacy of facility equipment, quality control procedures, and quality assurance programs are assessed. The findings are reported to the ACR Committee on Radiation Oncology Accreditation, which subsequently provides the practice with a comprehensive report they can use for continuous practice improvement.

Along with the ACR recognition, the Cancer Collaborative has been accredited by the prestigious Commission on Cancer since 2020. Watch a video about CMH’s ACR accreditation: https://youtu.be/flF1Fkwzne0. Learn more about the Cancer Collaborative at https://www.columbiamemorial.org/cancer-care/.