Mount Nittany Medical Center Designated as Center of Excellence in Lung Cancer Care

GO2 for Lung Cancer Recognizes Mount Nittany Health for Commitment to Highest Standards in Lung Cancer Care

Mount Nittany Medical Center has been named a Center of Excellence (COE) by GO2 for Lung Cancer (GO2) for its ongoing commitment to providing Centre Region with patient-centered, evidence-based lung cancer care. An estimated 237,000 Americans are diagnosed with lung cancer annually, and while it remains the leading cause of cancer deaths, lung cancer survival rates are growing at a rapid pace thanks to the availability of new, groundbreaking treatments for people diagnosed with the disease.

“Mount Nittany Health is dedicated to providing patients with the highest quality care,” said Gregory Ruff, MD, a pulmonologist at Mount Nittany Health. “We are thrilled to be part of this elite network, setting an example for responsible treatment and care practices across the country and helping people diagnosed with lung cancer in our community live longer, higher-quality lives.”

“We are proud to have Mount Nittany Medical Center join the community of GO2 for Lung Cancer Centers of Excellence that is national in scope and local in impact,” said Joelle Fathi, GO2 Chief Healthcare Delivery Officer. “Across the U.S., the majority of people at risk for or living with lung cancer are served by a local community hospital near their home. Through the GO2 COE network of community hospitals, clinics, and academic and VA medical centers, we are fostering and supporting essential knowledge sharing and collaboration that brings national and global advancements in early detection, treatment and care close to home.”

GO2 COEs designated in lung cancer care are committed to the principles of patient-centered communication and decision making across the entire care pathway.  They demonstrate access to standard cancer services within medical, radiation and surgical oncology, as well as pathology; follow practice standards based on evidence, expert consensus and clinical guidelines; and engage team-based mechanisms for multidisciplinary input to guide care and treatment recommendations and inform shared decision making.