CRANSTON – The Rhode Island Statewide Cancer Registry has been awarded the “Gold Standard” for the ninth consecutive year by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), the accrediting body for central cancer registries, the Hospital Association of Rhode Island announced last week.
The registry is funded by the R.I. Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Program of Cancer Registries, and has been operating under the auspices of HARI since 1986. It collects data about occurrences of cancer diagnosed in Rhode Island residents, providing crucial information for the state’s cancer surveillance and control efforts and for cancer research. All hospitals in Rhode Island report to the registry.
The NAACCR accreditation process involves the examination of six distinct areas of data quality, completeness and timeliness. Rhode Island met the highest standard, the “Gold Standard,” in all six criteria.
“The registrars in our hospitals and in our central registry are constantly striving for the highest quality in their work, and we are proud of this recognition,” said HARI President Edward J. Quinlan in a news release.
“The Cancer Registry is a critical public health surveillance tool,” said Dr. David R. Gifford, the state health director. “I am proud of the outstanding work of the state’s cancer registrars as well as the Health Department staff who have worked diligently for many years on the registry.”
