Selected Podcast
National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC)
Dr. Evan Fitz shares what has earned Franciscan Health the NAPRC accreditation, and what that means for patients.
Featuring:
Learn more about Evan Fitz, MD
Evan Fitz, MD
Evan Fitz, MD is a Colon and rectal surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network.Learn more about Evan Fitz, MD
Transcription:
Scott Webb: Franciscan Health is the first and only hospital in Indiana to earn an accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. Our colon and rectal specialists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the colon, rectum and anus.
And joining me today to discuss the NAPRC accreditation and what it means for patient care is Dr. Evan Fitz. He's a colon and rectal surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network. This is the Franciscan Health Doc Pod. I'm Scott Webb. And Dr. Fitz, thanks so much for your time today. What is the NAPRC accreditation?
Dr. Evan Fitz: So I'll start by first saying it's a long acronym and it's the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. It's a regulatory body that we developed in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons. And the idea behind this was to really try to get hospitals that are going to be treating rectal cancer on the same page and highlight centers of excellence to know that people are going to be getting excellent, state-of-the-art and standard rectal cancer care.
So the goal is to ensure that patients with rectal cancer receive a multidisciplinary approach and that the standards of care are followed. So rectal cancer outcomes have actually been shown to be better when they're treated at experienced centers with experienced surgeons and have experienced pathologists and oncologists working with those rectal cancer patients as well.
So the NAPRC accreditation, it proves that the institution has the various pieces in place to successfully treat rectal cancer in a standardized way. So beyond just having a good surgery, it's really imperative that all of the various specialties, whether they're pathologist or oncologists or radiologists, really work together. And we go together in the steps of care and making sure that we are following the proper steps to give our patients the best outcomes for their treatment.
Scott Webb: Yeah, that sounds good. And when we talk about qualifications, you know, what makes a company or a hospital or a hospital system qualified enough to earn that accreditation?
Dr. Evan Fitz: It's a very rigorous process. It really involves buy-in from every part of not only the hospital and not only the surgeons, but like I said, the other services such as pathology and oncology. So all of those doctors and all of the nursing that are involved, they have to adhere to these sets of standards and policies over at least 12 months, and then they have to prove it.
So after they have adhered to these standards, there's an eight-hour review process that occurs to prove that all of the standards are being met. Typically, an institution that seeks this accreditation is committed to both academic and clinical excellence. But they can't just say that they want to do it, they actually have to prove it. I would describe it as like an auditing process or an inspection, making sure that not only is the hospital saying they're doing all of these things, but they're proving it to a neutral and unbiased observer.
Scott Webb: It does sound exhaustive and thorough, which is great. And how does the accreditation set Franciscan apart from other competitors?
Dr. Evan Fitz: There are a lot of colon and rectal centers and places that do colon and rectal surgery throughout the state of Indiana. But, as of now, St. Francis is the only institution in the whole state of Indiana that's achieved this status.
Scott Webb: Yeah. So I guess it really does set you apart.
Dr. Evan Fitz: I like to think so. I mean, this is certainly something that we all bought into because we thought that this was something that not only would help set us apart, but really at the heart of it, was really to help patients; to know that our patients can have confidence that if they come to St Francis, that they're not only working with doctors that they like and that care about them, but doctors that are meeting the highest national standards of care for rectal cancer.
Scott Webb: Yeah. And so when you talk about patients, what does the NAPRC mean specifically for patients?
Dr. Evan Fitz: So I think what it can mean for a patient is that they can have confidence knowing that if they seek treatment for their rectal cancer through Franciscan Alliance, the hospitals are going to be basically joining them up with a team of doctors and specialists that have been vetted and proven to deliver the highest quality of care possible.
All of our patients are discussed at a multidisciplinary conference and every aspect of the care is reviewed by each member of the team. So I think at root of it, if a patient has rectal cancer, they can know and trust that if they're getting treated at St. Francis that no steps are ever skipped and everything is not only looked over by an expert, but by multiple experts.
Scott Webb: Yeah, that's awesome. The highest standard of care, of course. So how long can you hold or can any hospital hold the honor? And is it eligible to be renewed?
Dr. Evan Fitz: Yeah, technically you can hold the honor forever, but you still have to continue to prove that you're meeting the standards of care. So when you are approved, you're accredited for a three-year timeframe. And then you go through the accreditation process again or the renewal process after that. And we were recently approved and so we have the next three years to show that this is something that we're going to continue to do. And so we fully expect to renew it and continue on with this tradition.
Scott Webb: Yeah, for sure. And this is maybe a bit of a loaded question, but I think you can handle this one. Why should a patient choose Franciscan Physician Network?
Dr. Evan Fitz: That's a question I've gotten before. And I think there are a lot of different reasons. A lot of systems will provide patients with quality care. But I think what sets St. Francis apart is that the people that are here have created a culture that truly puts the patient first. And we truly care about the patients that walk through our doors. It's really our mission.
I did part of my training here. And when I initially was done with my training, I took a job closer to my home in Oklahoma, and I loved it. But I was always hoping to get back to St. Francis because there's something that sets St. Francis apart that just everybody wants to be here. It's a culture that not only strives for excellent clinical outcomes, but also making sure that we treat our patients like family. And I think that we sort of feed off of each other in creating a culture of where we truly care about the patients.
Scott Webb: That's great. And as a patient myself, I often try to remind myself, you know, doctors and nurses are patients too, you know? And so they know what it means to be on both sides of the coin, if you will. And so, really great to know that patients are treated like family like you would treat your own family, which is great.
Dr. Evan Fitz: Yeah, I would have no hesitation sending my parents, my sister, my brother, my wife, my children, and I do, to any physician at St. Francis. And that was one thing that certainly I wouldn't feel very honest with my patients if I told them that they're getting great care, but I didn't bring my family here.
Scott Webb: Yeah. If you were sending your family to the hospital down the street, that wouldn't quite seem right, would it?
Dr. Evan Fitz: Right.
Scott Webb: So as we look into 2021, and I know that we're all optimistic and hopeful with COVID-19 vaccines and maybe taking these masks off and, you know, maybe a little less social distance and so on. But as you look forward to 2021, for your practice, what are you hoping to achieve?
Dr. Evan Fitz: That's a good question. There's technically six of us that are involved in Indiana Colon and Rectal Specialists here. And I'm sure everyone would have a little bit of a different goal, but I think the one thing that we can all agree on is that we're trying to get more and more people up to date with their screening, which is specifically with their colonoscopies.
There was a little bit of a dip because of COVID that elective procedures were put off, certainly starting at about March of 2020 and that extended and we've reached a little bit of a backlog and that people are finally starting to get things that they put off done. And one thing that we want to make sure that doesn't get put off is colonoscopies, because overall the state of Indiana has about a 68% adherence rate to screening guidelines for colon cancer. Now, that's actually pretty good because in the 1990s, it was only around 20%. But we really want to get that to a hundred percent.
And I think this is a great time to talk about how the US Preventative Task Force actually just recently recommended that we're changing colonoscopy screening guidelines to 45 years old. And so if all 45 year old patients who are of normal risk came in to get their colonoscopies, that would be something that I would consider a goal achieved.
Scott Webb: Yeah. And as you say, you know, 68% is good, but 100% would be better. Let's definitely shoot for that. Doctor, this has been really educational today, learning about NAPRC and what that means and how St. Francis has earned that honor. As we wrap up here, anything else you want to tell people?
Dr. Evan Fitz: It's March and certainly with it being mid-March, this is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. So we wear a lot of blue to try to make sure that people know that this is the time that, if you're ever wondering, that certainly cancer can occur in any part of the colon or the rectum and the only way that you'll know many times is to actually get screened.
And I'd like to people know that if you do get screened and it comes back positive and if unfortunately a patient does have rectal cancer, that they'll get the highest level of care here. And that the NAPRC is really just something that, I think, outwardly proves something that we've always known here, is that we're providing patients with great care and that we'll treat them like family through every step of the process,
Scott Webb: Yeah. That's well said. Well, doctor, thanks so much for your time today and you stay well
Dr. Evan Fitz: Thank you for having me. I very much appreciate it.
Scott Webb: To learn more about the Rectal Cancer Clinic, visit FranciscanHealth.org/coloncancercare And we hope you found this podcast to be helpful and informative. This is the Franciscan Health Doc Pod. I'm Scott Webb. Stay well, and we'll talk again next time.
Scott Webb: Franciscan Health is the first and only hospital in Indiana to earn an accreditation from the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer, a quality program of the American College of Surgeons. Our colon and rectal specialists are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases in the colon, rectum and anus.
And joining me today to discuss the NAPRC accreditation and what it means for patient care is Dr. Evan Fitz. He's a colon and rectal surgeon with Franciscan Physician Network. This is the Franciscan Health Doc Pod. I'm Scott Webb. And Dr. Fitz, thanks so much for your time today. What is the NAPRC accreditation?
Dr. Evan Fitz: So I'll start by first saying it's a long acronym and it's the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer. It's a regulatory body that we developed in collaboration with the American College of Surgeons. And the idea behind this was to really try to get hospitals that are going to be treating rectal cancer on the same page and highlight centers of excellence to know that people are going to be getting excellent, state-of-the-art and standard rectal cancer care.
So the goal is to ensure that patients with rectal cancer receive a multidisciplinary approach and that the standards of care are followed. So rectal cancer outcomes have actually been shown to be better when they're treated at experienced centers with experienced surgeons and have experienced pathologists and oncologists working with those rectal cancer patients as well.
So the NAPRC accreditation, it proves that the institution has the various pieces in place to successfully treat rectal cancer in a standardized way. So beyond just having a good surgery, it's really imperative that all of the various specialties, whether they're pathologist or oncologists or radiologists, really work together. And we go together in the steps of care and making sure that we are following the proper steps to give our patients the best outcomes for their treatment.
Scott Webb: Yeah, that sounds good. And when we talk about qualifications, you know, what makes a company or a hospital or a hospital system qualified enough to earn that accreditation?
Dr. Evan Fitz: It's a very rigorous process. It really involves buy-in from every part of not only the hospital and not only the surgeons, but like I said, the other services such as pathology and oncology. So all of those doctors and all of the nursing that are involved, they have to adhere to these sets of standards and policies over at least 12 months, and then they have to prove it.
So after they have adhered to these standards, there's an eight-hour review process that occurs to prove that all of the standards are being met. Typically, an institution that seeks this accreditation is committed to both academic and clinical excellence. But they can't just say that they want to do it, they actually have to prove it. I would describe it as like an auditing process or an inspection, making sure that not only is the hospital saying they're doing all of these things, but they're proving it to a neutral and unbiased observer.
Scott Webb: It does sound exhaustive and thorough, which is great. And how does the accreditation set Franciscan apart from other competitors?
Dr. Evan Fitz: There are a lot of colon and rectal centers and places that do colon and rectal surgery throughout the state of Indiana. But, as of now, St. Francis is the only institution in the whole state of Indiana that's achieved this status.
Scott Webb: Yeah. So I guess it really does set you apart.
Dr. Evan Fitz: I like to think so. I mean, this is certainly something that we all bought into because we thought that this was something that not only would help set us apart, but really at the heart of it, was really to help patients; to know that our patients can have confidence that if they come to St Francis, that they're not only working with doctors that they like and that care about them, but doctors that are meeting the highest national standards of care for rectal cancer.
Scott Webb: Yeah. And so when you talk about patients, what does the NAPRC mean specifically for patients?
Dr. Evan Fitz: So I think what it can mean for a patient is that they can have confidence knowing that if they seek treatment for their rectal cancer through Franciscan Alliance, the hospitals are going to be basically joining them up with a team of doctors and specialists that have been vetted and proven to deliver the highest quality of care possible.
All of our patients are discussed at a multidisciplinary conference and every aspect of the care is reviewed by each member of the team. So I think at root of it, if a patient has rectal cancer, they can know and trust that if they're getting treated at St. Francis that no steps are ever skipped and everything is not only looked over by an expert, but by multiple experts.
Scott Webb: Yeah, that's awesome. The highest standard of care, of course. So how long can you hold or can any hospital hold the honor? And is it eligible to be renewed?
Dr. Evan Fitz: Yeah, technically you can hold the honor forever, but you still have to continue to prove that you're meeting the standards of care. So when you are approved, you're accredited for a three-year timeframe. And then you go through the accreditation process again or the renewal process after that. And we were recently approved and so we have the next three years to show that this is something that we're going to continue to do. And so we fully expect to renew it and continue on with this tradition.
Scott Webb: Yeah, for sure. And this is maybe a bit of a loaded question, but I think you can handle this one. Why should a patient choose Franciscan Physician Network?
Dr. Evan Fitz: That's a question I've gotten before. And I think there are a lot of different reasons. A lot of systems will provide patients with quality care. But I think what sets St. Francis apart is that the people that are here have created a culture that truly puts the patient first. And we truly care about the patients that walk through our doors. It's really our mission.
I did part of my training here. And when I initially was done with my training, I took a job closer to my home in Oklahoma, and I loved it. But I was always hoping to get back to St. Francis because there's something that sets St. Francis apart that just everybody wants to be here. It's a culture that not only strives for excellent clinical outcomes, but also making sure that we treat our patients like family. And I think that we sort of feed off of each other in creating a culture of where we truly care about the patients.
Scott Webb: That's great. And as a patient myself, I often try to remind myself, you know, doctors and nurses are patients too, you know? And so they know what it means to be on both sides of the coin, if you will. And so, really great to know that patients are treated like family like you would treat your own family, which is great.
Dr. Evan Fitz: Yeah, I would have no hesitation sending my parents, my sister, my brother, my wife, my children, and I do, to any physician at St. Francis. And that was one thing that certainly I wouldn't feel very honest with my patients if I told them that they're getting great care, but I didn't bring my family here.
Scott Webb: Yeah. If you were sending your family to the hospital down the street, that wouldn't quite seem right, would it?
Dr. Evan Fitz: Right.
Scott Webb: So as we look into 2021, and I know that we're all optimistic and hopeful with COVID-19 vaccines and maybe taking these masks off and, you know, maybe a little less social distance and so on. But as you look forward to 2021, for your practice, what are you hoping to achieve?
Dr. Evan Fitz: That's a good question. There's technically six of us that are involved in Indiana Colon and Rectal Specialists here. And I'm sure everyone would have a little bit of a different goal, but I think the one thing that we can all agree on is that we're trying to get more and more people up to date with their screening, which is specifically with their colonoscopies.
There was a little bit of a dip because of COVID that elective procedures were put off, certainly starting at about March of 2020 and that extended and we've reached a little bit of a backlog and that people are finally starting to get things that they put off done. And one thing that we want to make sure that doesn't get put off is colonoscopies, because overall the state of Indiana has about a 68% adherence rate to screening guidelines for colon cancer. Now, that's actually pretty good because in the 1990s, it was only around 20%. But we really want to get that to a hundred percent.
And I think this is a great time to talk about how the US Preventative Task Force actually just recently recommended that we're changing colonoscopy screening guidelines to 45 years old. And so if all 45 year old patients who are of normal risk came in to get their colonoscopies, that would be something that I would consider a goal achieved.
Scott Webb: Yeah. And as you say, you know, 68% is good, but 100% would be better. Let's definitely shoot for that. Doctor, this has been really educational today, learning about NAPRC and what that means and how St. Francis has earned that honor. As we wrap up here, anything else you want to tell people?
Dr. Evan Fitz: It's March and certainly with it being mid-March, this is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month. So we wear a lot of blue to try to make sure that people know that this is the time that, if you're ever wondering, that certainly cancer can occur in any part of the colon or the rectum and the only way that you'll know many times is to actually get screened.
And I'd like to people know that if you do get screened and it comes back positive and if unfortunately a patient does have rectal cancer, that they'll get the highest level of care here. And that the NAPRC is really just something that, I think, outwardly proves something that we've always known here, is that we're providing patients with great care and that we'll treat them like family through every step of the process,
Scott Webb: Yeah. That's well said. Well, doctor, thanks so much for your time today and you stay well
Dr. Evan Fitz: Thank you for having me. I very much appreciate it.
Scott Webb: To learn more about the Rectal Cancer Clinic, visit FranciscanHealth.org/coloncancercare And we hope you found this podcast to be helpful and informative. This is the Franciscan Health Doc Pod. I'm Scott Webb. Stay well, and we'll talk again next time.