FORT WORTH, Texas — Once again, Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital Fort Worth earned Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and certification for its brain tumor care. Fewer than 10 facilities in the nation have earned the prestigious disease-specific care certification.

In 2016, Texas Health Fort Worth was the first hospital in the state to have its brain tumor program certified by Joint Commission.

“For the past 10 years, this certification has highlighted the dedication and tireless work ethic of our employees and physicians on the Texas Health Fort Worth medical staff,” said Jared Shelton, FACHE, Texas Health Fort Worth president. “Recognition doesn’t drive us. Instead, it’s the commitment to continuously do the right thing for our patients.”

Joint Commission surveyors analyzed the hospital program’s clinical practice guidelines, patient outcomes and treatment options, which include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, radiosurgery, image-guided neurosurgery and cranial-based surgical procedures, a subspecialty within neuroscience care.

Each year, an estimated 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with a primary brain tumor, which develops from tissues or abnormal cells. Not only that, more than 1.3 million are currently living in the U.S. with a brain tumor.

More than 70% of those patients have noncancerous tumors, but unfortunately, nearly 30% are malignant, said Adrian Harvey, D.O., Texas Health Fort Worth’s brain tumor program medical director and a member of the North Texas Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists, a Texas Health Physicians Group practice*.

And this year alone, it’s estimated that close to 2,000 individuals living in Texas will receive a brain or nervous system cancer diagnosis.

“Along with recovering from brain surgery, we know that some patients will face a cancer diagnosis and that can be overwhelming. Texas Health Fort Worth’s brain tumor program provides patients with critical resources – before, during and after treatment,” Harvey said. “Empowering patients to improve their quality of life is our most desired achievement.”

Texas Health Fort Worth’s robust program provides neurological patients with educational tools and offers comprehensive postoperative rehabilitation programs. The hospital’s care team, which includes neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists, neurologists, pathologists and radiation oncologists, collaborates to determine whether treatment requires medication, surgical removal, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or scheduled monitoring.

To learn more about Texas Health’s brain tumor program, click here.

*Joint Commission offers certifications for brain tumor and lung cancer care under the Disease-Specific Care Certification program. This certification provides a framework for continuously reliable care. Certification with Joint Commission is proof your program meets the rigorous standards of the world’s preeminent accreditation and certification organization.

**Physicians employed by Texas Health Physicians Group practice independently and are not employees or agents of Texas Health Resources hospitals.