EvergreenHealth's Radiation Oncology Group Recognized as Center of Excellence by Boston Scientific
The award recognizes EvergreenHealth's use of SpaceOAR Hydrogel, a product that minimizes the side effects of radiation therapy for prostate cancer patients KIRKLAND, Wash. — EvergreenHealth's Radiation Oncology Group has been recognized by Boston Scientific as a Center of Excellence for its use of the product SpaceOAR Hydrogel to minimize the side effects of radiation therapy for patients undergoing prostate cancer treatment.
R. Alex Hsi
In addition to the Center of Excellence recognition, EvergreenHealth and Fred Hutch Cancer Center radiation oncologist R. Alex Hsi, MD , was honored for his work with the SpaceOAR Hydrogel, being one of just a few doctors in the Pacific Northwest region who is a specialist in using the product.
"The SpaceOAR Hydrogel is truly a game changer for anyone undergoing radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer," Dr. Hsi said. "It can significantly minimize the impact radiation therapy typically has on a patient's quality of life, specifically their bowel function."
The SpaceOAR Hydrogel is an organic, absorbable gel material that forms into a solid gel once it is placed between the patient's rectum and prostate prior to their radiation therapy.
The FDA-cleared product works by temporarily increasing the distance between the front rectal wall and the prostate during radiotherapy, reducing the amount of high-dose radiation delivered to the rectum by roughly 75%. The gel is then reabsorbed by the patient's body about 6 months after being placed.
Dr. Hsi and the rest of EvergreenHealth's Radiation Oncology team use radiation therapy to destroy cancer cells, utilizing advanced technology like linear accelerators and image-guided systems to target cancerous tumors to deliver the best possible outcomes for patients.
The Center of Excellence recognition comes after Boston Scientific reviewed the EvergreenHealth Radiation Oncology program and found that they exceeded the criteria for consistently high-quality complication-free placement of the hydrogel. EvergreenHealth is one of just twenty sites across the U.S. to receive this recognition.
Additionally, EvergreenHealth's overall quality and expertise are recognized by numerous other awards:
Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals Award, placing EvergreenHealth in the top 1% of hospitals in the nation for clinical quality
The Leapfrog Group's 'A' rating for patient safety, based on how well hospitals keep patients safe from errors, accidents and infections
CMS Hospital Compare's 5-star rating—one of just three hospitals in the Puget Sound region and one of just 455 hospitals nationwide
Learn more about EvergreenHealth's Cancer Care at https://www.evergreenhealth.com/health-services/cancer-care/ .
