Topics: Oncology, Service Lines, Planning, Strategy, Accreditation, Market Trends
The American College of Surgeons’ Commission on Cancer (CoC), which accredits approximately 1,500 cancer programs nationally, recently released a revised set of accreditation standards for cancer programs. To help member institutions achieve the new standards, the Roundtable has updated its Commission on Cancer Crosswalk, which indexes the Roundtable’s extensive library of research by CoC standard, enabling members to quickly identify and access resources to help them achieve each accreditation requirement.
To use this online tool, simply select one or more of the CoC standards from a drop down menu and the tool will automatically provide the most relevant best practices and implementation tools to support implementation.
Raising the bar for cancer care
The updated standards include revisions to longstanding CoC requirements and present several new standards focused on addressing patient needs. These additional standards emphasize services such as:
- navigation
- distress screening and management
- genetics testing and counseling
- survivorship
- palliative care
- tracking clinical quality data through the cancer registry
New standards generating concerns
Although the CoC’s new accreditation standards represent an important step toward achieving high-quality, patient-centered cancer care, many programs have responded with concerns regarding the major investment of time and money needed to achieve compliance.
Many of the services required for accreditation, such as navigation, distress screening, and the provision of survivorship care plans, are not reimbursed. Others, such as genetics counseling and palliative care, typically do not generate sufficient reimbursement to cover their costs. As a result, taking steps to maintain accreditation may actually hurt some cancer programs’ financial performance, at least over the short-term.
Success requires implementation of demonstrated best practices
Given the magnitude of the resource investment and the uncertainty of financial returns, there is little room for error in preparing for the new requirements. Rather than take a trial and error approach, cancer program leaders looking to maintain accreditation must implement strategies that achieve results from the outset.
The Oncology Roundtable’s vast resource library includes hundreds of proven best practices to, help cancer program leaders achieve the new CoC standards while simultaneously minimizing costs and maximizing benefits to patients.
Access the tool
Oncology Roundtable members can access the updated Commission on Cancer Crosswalk to find the best practices and tools to fit your needs. Not a member of the Oncology Roundtable? Visit our website to learn more.
