Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, right, consulting with researcher Eddy Yang, M.D., Ph.D. The University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital has received a 2015 Women’s Choice Award for being named one of America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care, acknowledging its excellence in patient care and cancer research, especially for women.
Women’s Choice Award is a consumer advocacy group that helps women make the best choices when it comes to products and services. In terms of health care, WCA has recognized an elite group of about 340 hospitals, out of 1,300 that were analyzed, as America’s Best Hospitals for Cancer Care.
“It’s important to us at UAB to provide the highest level of care to all our patients, and it’s an honor to be a choice among women,” said Edward Partridge, M.D., director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We know that women are usually the decision-makers when it comes to health care decisions in a home, and it is a distinct honor to be trusted by them.”
UAB Hospital was selected based on being accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, having an above-average patient recommendation rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, having available chemotherapy, radiation and hospice services on-site, participation in clinical trials and research, and satisfactory clinical performance with regard to patient safety measures.
According to the American Cancer Society, one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime.
“Women have choices when it comes to cancer care, but now they can make informed choices based on rigorous evidence-based criteria,” said Delia Passi, founder of the Women’s Choice Award. “As a cancer survivor who faced a challenging journey to recovery, I wish I’d had the WCA as a resource to spare me unnecessary fret and error.”
As one of the nation’s leaders in cancer research and treatment, the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center located in the six-state area including Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and South Carolina.
The Cancer Center offers a full array of treatment options, from multidisciplinary clinics filled with specialized experts to the latest state-of-the-art technology. The center is home to an outstanding faculty of more than 330 physicians and researchers, many of whom are internationally and nationally recognized for their expertise in oncology.
UAB was also named one of the top breast health centers in the U.S. by the WCA earlier this year.