Mount Nittany Medical Center’s cancer program has been garanted a three-year accreditation with commendation by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons.

“The most important aspect of this accreditation is what it means for our patients. It ensures that a patient will have access to comprehensive care, including a range of state-of-the-art services and equipment,” Aileen Galley, administrative director, Penn State Cancer Institute at Mount Nittany, said in a news release Wednesday.

Other quality of care standards of the accreditation include:

• A multispecialty, team approach to coordinate the best treatment options;

• Information about ongoing clinical trials and new treatment options;

• Access to cancer-related information, education and support;

• A cancer registry that collects data on type and stage of cancers and treatment results and offers lifelong patient follow-up;

• Ongoing monitoring and improvement of care; and

• Quality care close to home.

Mount Nittany received the accreditation following the on-site evaluation by a physician surveyor during which the facility demonstrated a commendation level of compliance with one or more standards that represent the full scope of the cancer program, according to the release.

Mount Nittany began offering a programmatic approach to cancer care in 1974. The 40,000-square-foot Lance and Ellen Shaner Cancer Pavilion will be completed in October to create space where patients and families can access the many services they may need to cope with cancer.