Jordan Ellis
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and the quality of life for cancer patients. They set and raise standards for cancer care, promoting prevention, research, education, and monitoring of comprehensive quality care. CoC accreditation is given to facilities that voluntarily commit to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing 30% of all hospitals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of CoC-accredited hospitals | More than 1,500 in the US and Puerto Rico |
| Percentage of all hospitals | 30% |
| Type of facility | Cancer programs |
| Basis of category assignment | Facility, program structure, services provided, number of cases accessioned each year |
| Caseload requirement | No minimum caseload requirement |
| Accreditation validity | Three years |
| Accreditation renewal requirement | On-site review |
| Accreditation renewal frequency | Every three years |
| Accreditation benefits | Improved survival and quality of life for patients with cancer, cancer prevention, research, education, monitoring of comprehensive quality care |
| Number of member organizations | 56 |
| Types of member organizations | Patient advocacy groups, government agencies, healthcare organizations |
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What You'll Learn
The rigorous evaluation process for accreditation
Accreditation is a reputable tool to evaluate and enhance the quality of healthcare. It is a form of external review that shows that a healthcare provider meets regulations and standards set by an external accreditation organization. The rigorous evaluation process for accreditation in healthcare is an important step for any hospital or healthcare provider. It is a comprehensive assessment of processes, policies, and procedures to ensure compliance with external standards and regulations. This process helps to streamline operations, improve the quality of care, and build trust with patients and the community.
The evaluation process for accreditation is rigorous and involves a thorough review of an organization's structures and policies by industry experts and peer reviewers from other accredited organizations. This includes everything from training materials to data retention and equipment maintenance. For example, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) accreditation is given to facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance. There are currently more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing 30% of all hospitals. These programs undergo an on-site visit every three years to ensure compliance with the standards.
The CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients by setting and raising standards. They promote cancer prevention, research, education, and monitoring of comprehensive quality care. The CoC invites hospitals and centers to download the accreditation standards, Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards), to understand the requirements for accreditation. The CoC also has a Cancer Liaison Program, a grassroots network of volunteers who manage clinically related cancer activities.
The accreditation process seeks to help identify known and unknown risks to quality and patient safety by conducting a meaningful assessment. It inspires organizations to improve their care, treatment, and services, and to provide new information and best practices. The Joint Commission, for example, has published standards that form the basis of an objective evaluation process to help healthcare organizations assess, measure, and improve performance. Compliance with these standards is scored according to specific performance expectations, and the final accreditation decision is made at a later date.
Overall, the rigorous evaluation process for accreditation in healthcare is essential to ensuring that healthcare organizations meet external standards and provide high-quality care to their patients. It helps to identify areas for improvement and enhances the reputation of the organization within the community.
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The triennial on-site review to maintain accreditation
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) is a consortium of professional organisations dedicated to improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients with cancer. This is achieved by setting and raising standards, as well as promoting cancer prevention, research, education, and monitoring of comprehensive quality care.
To become accredited by the CoC, a facility must voluntarily commit to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and performance review. There is no minimum caseload requirement for CoC accreditation, and category assignments are made based on the type of facility, program structure, services provided, and the number of cases accessioned each year.
To maintain CoC accreditation, facilities with accredited cancer programs must undergo an on-site review every three years, known as the triennial on-site review. During this review, a trained CoC site visit reviewer visits the facility and examines the required cancer program activity documentation to ensure compliance with the standards. The triennial review process is not unique to the CoC and can be seen in other organisations such as the FTA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, where it is used to examine recipient performance and adherence to requirements and policies.
Currently, there are over 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing 30% of all hospitals. An example of a CoC-accredited hospital is the Capital Health Cancer Center.
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The grassroots network of CoC Cancer Liaison Program volunteers
The Commission on Cancer (CoC) is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival rates and the quality of life for patients with cancer. They promote cancer prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care.
The CoC Cancer Liaison Program is a grassroots network of volunteers who manage clinically related cancer activities. The program was established in 1963, and initially, membership was limited to surgeons. However, in the 1970s, membership expanded to reflect the multidisciplinary nature of cancer care professionals. Today, the program is composed of a network of approximately 1,500 to 1,600 Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) serving CoC-accredited cancer programs, and 64 State Chairs who provide local support for the CoC's activities and programs.
The Committee on Cancer Liaison directs the activities of the Cancer Liaison Program, including the network of CLPs and State Chairs. The committee also oversees the implementation of priorities established by the funding agency, the American Cancer Society.
The financial and staff/volunteer investment between the Society and the CoC has been significant. Each year, the Society awards funds to support the Cancer Liaison Program and the National Cancer Database. This collaboration has made a significant impact on the support available to newly diagnosed cancer patients, public education about cancer prevention and early detection, and physician engagement in cancer control activities at the state and community levels.
CoC-accredited cancer programs undergo an on-site visit every three years, in which a trained CoC site visit reviewer visits the cancer program and reviews required cancer program activity documentation to ensure compliance with the standards.
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The benefits of accreditation for patients
Accreditation in healthcare is of utmost importance. It is an external stamp of approval, showing that the healthcare provider meets the regulations and standards set by an external accreditation organization. The process helps to streamline operations, improve the quality of care, and build trust with patients.
Accredited facilities demonstrate a commitment to higher standards, giving them a competitive edge. They also gain access to a host of resources and partnerships. The accreditation process itself helps to identify gaps, improve collaboration across departments, and refine processes. It ensures that staff are held to high standards for patient care, and that patients will receive consistent, excellent care throughout the facility.
In certain specialty areas, accreditation programs have been shown to improve patient outcomes. For example, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) is dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients. CoC-accredited cancer programs undergo rigorous evaluation and triennial on-site reviews to ensure compliance with standards.
There is also evidence that accreditation improves performance in hospital settings, and patient safety. It can help to reduce liability and improve operational efficiency, which may bring significant savings for the organization.
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The challenges in assessing performance in non-accredited hospitals
Accreditation is a formal process by which a recognised body evaluates a healthcare organisation against predefined standards of excellence. Hospitals that achieve accreditation are deemed to meet these standards, reflecting their commitment to high-quality care. Accreditation is viewed as a reputable tool to evaluate and enhance the quality of healthcare. However, its effect on performance and outcomes remains unclear.
There are over 1500 Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing 30% of all hospitals. CoC accreditation is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to providing the highest level of quality cancer care and that undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of their performance.
Despite the push for accreditation, there is sparse evidence to support its efficiency or effectiveness. The methodological challenges of measuring the effects of accreditation are increased by the complexity of hospital organisations and their heterogeneous components. It is unclear what elements are being subjected to assessment. For example, it is hard to identify the "active ingredient" of complex interventions such as handwashing campaigns, as these interventions comprise many separate, multi-level and concurrent elements. Furthermore, the interventions are interpreted in many ways and are used in different settings, which strongly complicates the evaluation of their effects.
Non-accredited hospitals, while providing critical healthcare services, may face challenges that limit their ability to achieve the same level of performance as their accredited counterparts. Without the framework of accreditation standards, non-accredited hospitals may struggle to maintain consistent care. Variability in clinical practices can lead to an increased risk of medical errors, higher rates of preventable complications and infections, and delayed diagnoses or treatments due to a lack of standardised protocols. Non-accredited hospitals may also lack structured processes for managing patient care and administrative functions, resulting in longer patient wait times, overcrowding, inefficient use of resources, and gaps in communication between departments.
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Frequently asked questions
There are over 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the US and Puerto Rico, representing 30% of all hospitals.
The American College of Surgeons has a CoC hospital locator tool where you can search for accredited hospitals by zip code, city, state, or within a 100-mile radius of a zip code.
CoC accreditation is a recognition that a hospital provides high-quality cancer care. Accredited hospitals have met national quality standards for delivering comprehensive, patient-centered cancer care.
