TGH Cancer Institute Awarded Prestigious QOPI® Certification from the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO)

ASCO recognizes the hospital’s commitment to quality care, safety standards,

culture of excellence and patient outcomes.

 

Tampa, FL (Jan. 30, 2025) – In its drive to transform health care in the Tampa Bay region and beyond, Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has reached another milestone — a prestigious stamp of approval by the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). This voluntary certification specifically recognizes the TGH Cancer Institute for meeting the strict standards required by the society’s Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) program.

“This accreditation elevates our compassionate oncology care to another level and underscores how we foster a culture of excellence that enhances our ability to deliver world-class care to our patients,” said Dr. Eduardo Sotomayor, vice president and executive director of the TGH Cancer Institute. “The achievement was made possible by work from many team members and with the leadership and guidance of Tricia Skarr, MSN, RN, ONC, manager of the TGH Cancer Institute Infusion Center; Leo Begazo, RN, director, Medical Oncology Clinical Operations, TGH Cancer Institute and Dr. Noman Ashraf, medical oncologist and physician leader, TGH Cancer Institute. Thanks to all our team members, we arrived at the finish line after a rigorous evaluation by a QOPI® surveyor,” Sotomayor said.

Tampa General achieved the certification by meeting QOPI®’s core standards in all areas of cancer treatment, including:

• Treatment planning
• Staff training and education
• Chemotherapy orders and drug preparation
• Patient consent and education
• Safe chemotherapy administration
• Monitoring and assessment of patient well-being

QOPI certification is renewed every three years and Tampa General’s current term is valid through the end of 2027.

The society also recognized Tampa General and its academic partnership with the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, which forms a multidisciplinary facility with all-encompassing cancer care that includes medical and radiation oncology, surgical services, pathology, hematology, gynecologic oncology and more.

The surveyors took note of Tampa General’s Care Coordination Center platform, which coordinates workflows throughout the hospital. This platform allows physicians/clinicians to transfer their most acute patients within 24 hours, providing lifesaving interventions that have been particularly beneficial to leukemia patients across Florida.

“This certification recognizes our unwavering commitment to providing high-quality treatment and care, while also offering a framework to continuously evaluate and improve our practices based on performance standards and quality measures set by leading experts in the field,’’ said Dr. Abraham Schwarzberg, executive vice president, chief of oncology, president of Tampa General Provider Network, Tampa General and co-vice president, Clinical and Translational Research of the TGH | USF Health Office of Clinical Research.

The TGH Cancer Institute ranks among the nation’s top 50 cancer centers in U.S. News & World Report's 2024-2025 Best Hospitals list and is No. 3 in the state. The institute provides all-encompassing care via groundbreaking therapies, advanced diagnostic imaging tools and a highly coordinated, interdisciplinary approach to world-class patient care. It is also certified by the American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer Accreditation and has been named among America's Best Cancer Hospitals by Newsweek. For more information about the TGH Cancer Institute, visit www.tgh.org/cancer.