APEx Related Links
Welcome to APEx
ASTRO's APEx - Accreditation Program for Excellence® was developed by radiation oncology professionals to recognize facilities that deliver safe, high-quality care to their patients. Use the APEx readiness checklist to start your accreditation journey.
Why APEx Accreditation?
Ninety-nine percent of APEx-accredited facilities have stated, in a program satisfaction survey, that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the APEx process AND that they would recommend the program to colleagues.
- APEx serves as a partner and ally to radiation oncology practices.
- Practices are able to leverage APEx Standards to improve their practice and processes.
- APEx uncovers potential blind spots in processes like QA, peer review and documentation.
- Practices are able to achieve safe and appropriate staffing levels.
What are the benefits of being an accredited facility?
The flexibility of APEx, including three- or four-year cycles and in-person or virtual options, means that it fits a practice’s needs. Specifically, the program:- Distinguishes your practice from others in your community.
- Provides patients and caregivers with additional evidence of your facility's focus on safety.
- Fulfills the radiation therapy component for the Commission on Cancer (CoC) and National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC).
- Satisfies the American Board of Radiology’s Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 4 requirements with the APEx PQI Template.
For questions about APEx, please email APEx Support or request an information session.
 “Achieving this accreditation has been a key priority for our department. Pursuing it APEx has brought our multidisciplinary team together in new ways and allowed us to focus on ensuring that the needed policies, procedures and resources are in place so that we are continuously delivering excellent care to our patients.” — Howard Sandler, MD, MS, FASTRO Cedars-Sinai Medical Center ASTRO President |
Are you interested in finding out more about APEx Accreditation? Check out:
- APEx Testimonials
- "Why Pursue Accreditation" from ASTROnews (page 25)
- Accreditation Program for Excellence (APEx): A Catalyst for Quality Improvement in Practical Radiation Oncology
- APEx session from the 2021 Annual Meeting
Next steps
Schedule a one-on-one session with ASTRO staff to discover the ways APEx can benefit your practice. It's free and takes less than an hour. Also, take advantage of a template itinerary, draft presentation and leadership letter to assist with speaking to your practice about APEx.
Are you interested in transitioning to APEx from another radiation oncology accrediting body? You can request a teleconference with a knowledgeable radiation oncology professional from your chosen discipline by completing the peer-to-peer request form. This meeting will allow you to hear from your colleagues who have completed the APEx process. You can ask specific questions and learn from their experiences.
Partners in Quality and Safety
ASTRO is proud to partner with the entire radiation oncology team to improve quality and safety for patients and staff. While every member contributes to high-quality outcomes, physicists play a pivotal role in radiation oncology practices. Along with other members of the patient care team, physicists assure the accurate delivery of all aspects of the treatment plan; oversee radiation safety; and implement, maintain and monitor advanced radiation treatment technologies. Given the breadth and level of work they do, it’s easy to see why physicists often lead or play key roles in practice accreditation. Visit APEx and Physicists to learn more about how APEx can help physicists enhance their current systems and processes.
