Fred Hutch, SCCA receive CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation - Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center

SEATTLE – Jan. 14, 2014 – Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and its cancer treatment arm, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance (SCCA), each have earned CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation in recognition of their commitment to employee health.

CEO Cancer Gold Standard accreditation calls for companies to evaluate their health benefits and corporate culture and take extensive, concrete actions in five key areas of health and wellness to fight cancer in the workplace. To earn Gold Standard accreditation, an organization must establish programs to reduce cancer risk by:

• discouraging tobacco use;
• encouraging physical activity;
• promoting a healthy diet and nutrition;
• detecting cancer at its earliest stages, when outcomes may be more favorable; and
• providing access to quality care, including participation in cancer clinical trials.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer Inc., a nonprofit organization comprised of chief executives from major American companies representing diverse industries, established the Gold Standard accreditation program in 2001 in collaboration with the American Cancer Society.

 “The American Cancer Society is thrilled to acknowledge Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance as recipients of the prestigious CEO Cancer Gold Standard award,” said Stephanie Christensen, executive vice president of the ACS Great West Division. “It is through their dedication to improving the health and well-being of their employees and their families that we can progress that much further in eliminating cancer.”

In nominating the Hutch and SCCA for accreditation, benefits compensation manager Jonathan Sheppard said the commitment of both institutions to eliminating cancer doesn’t end in the laboratory or the clinic. “It extends to our culture as a workplace,” he said. “We actively encourage and empower employees and their family members in a myriad of ways to make healthy choices that reduce cancer risk, and we provide outstanding health insurance benefits.”

Among the attributes that make the Hutch a Gold Standard employer are its tobacco-free environment and its industry-leading, tobacco-cessation program. Based on research showing that positive incentives are most successful, the Hutch implemented a cash-incentive plan for employees who enroll in a tobacco-cessation program and stay quit.

Other perks that make the Hutch and SCCA Gold Standard employers include:

A popular health and wellness program. “Our Healthy Challenge attracts more than 30 percent of Hutch employees and close to 20 percent of SCCA employees each year to challenge themselves to develop better nutrition and exercise habits, and other healthy behaviors,” Sheppard said. Now in its 12^th year, the Healthy Challenge also includes educational seminars, a fun run and prize incentives to keep participants engaged.

A robust bike commuter-support program. Bus/transit subsidies, free shower and towel service, locked bike cages and on-site bike repair and maintenance facilities are available for regular bike commuters – more than 500 from the Hutch (about 20 percent) and more than 100 (about 4 percent) from SCCA.

Excellent health insurance benefits. The Hutch and SCCA’s health benefits provide coverage for the highest quality cancer screening and treatment services, including clinical trials at SCCA, whose cancer survival rates are among the highest in the nation.

On-site cancer screening facilities. Mammography/breast imaging and colonoscopy screening are made easily available in the SCCA outpatient clinic on the Fred Hutch campus.

There are more than 150 CEO Cancer Gold Standard-accredited organizations in the U.S., including the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, UW Medicine, Fox Chase Cancer Center, City of Hope, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Mayo Clinic and MD Anderson Cancer Center.