The Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute meets or exceeds all the national standards required by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, according to recent site surveys and data analysis.

The site surveys and data analysis were part of a rigorous survey process by the commission, which in March accredited the HHCCI as an Integrated Network Cancer Program, something only a small percentage of cancer centers have been able to accomplish nationwide, Hartford HealthCare said in a news release Monday.

The accreditation focused on 34 standards, 31 of which the HHCCI met and three of which surpassed expectations, the news release said. “Commendations” were granted in the three areas that surpassed – clinical research, nursing care and accuracy of data. The Hartford HealthCare network includes The William W. Backus Hospital in Norwich.

“This has been a major undertaking, and a clear indication of the progress we have made in realizing our vision to become one cohesive cancer center that ensures that patients have access to the highest standards of care no matter where they enter our system,” said Donna Handley, vice president of operations for the institute. “This took an incredible amount of teamwork — I am so proud of everyone who helped make this happen.”