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Benefits of Being a CoC Accredited Program

Accreditation by the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons, demonstrates a cancer program’s commitment to providing high-quality, multidisciplinary, patient-centered cancer care.

CoC accreditation is nationally recognized by organizations, including the National Cancer Institute, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, National Quality Forum, American Cancer Society, and The Joint Commission, as having established data-driven performance measures for the provision of quality cancer care.

The standards set the framework for a program that provides high-quality, patient-centered care and access to the full scope of cancer care services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, and support.

BENEFITS FOR COC-ACCREDITED PROGRAMS

Structured Care

The CoC offers cancer programs an organizational model for the delivery of comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care. The standards require facilities to create meaningful processes for implementation of patient-centered care.

 

Accountability and Quality Improvement Measures

Required participation in the National Cancer Database (NCDB) and access to numerous quality reporting tools enable CoC-accredited programs to compare their provision and timeliness of care and improve performance based on nationally recognized quality measures and standards of cancer care.

Access to the NCDB allows programs to:

  • Monitor and report outcomes
  • Determine patterns of care
  • Identify cancer disparities
  • Focus on areas for quality improvement initiatives

 

Extensive Data

Accreditation provides extensive data on patients treated within the facility to use for internal quality improvement, administration, and research.

 

Data Analysis

Programs have the opportunity for Participant User File (PUF) participation in CoC special studies developed to address important issues in cancer care.

 

Public Awareness

By becoming CoC accredited, your program receives public recognition of commitment to quality care at the local level based on national standards. Free promotion and national exposure are available to accredited programs through CoC marketing efforts and the “Find an Accredited Cancer Program” tool. Your program’s accreditation demonstrates adherence to performance measures.

 

Recruiting

CoC accreditation can serve as a recruitment tool for physicians and other medical professionals.

BENEFITS FOR PATIENTS AND THE COMMUNITY

CoC accreditation does not only benefit your program. For your patients and your community, accreditation:

  • Promotes increased participation in care decisions by patients and family members.
  • Shows that accredited programs are dedicating resources to provide quality treatment and supportive care services to cancer patients.
  • Guarantees patients access to important components of treatment recommended by the Health and Medicine Division (formerly the Institute of Medicine [IOM]), National Cancer Comprehensive Network, and American Society of Clinical Oncology.
  • A multidisciplinary oncology team is involved in the planning and coordination of cancer care.
  • Informed about clinical research studies and trial options.
  • Programs work in collaboration with your community to provide cancer prevention and cancer screening events.
  • Standards of care are verified by a reputable national organization.
  • Quality cancer care that is available close to home.

VALUE TO PAYERS

Program accreditation by the CoC:

  • Demonstrates commitment to quality to patients, providers, payers, and policymakers.
  • Focuses on a system of care that ensures optimal treatment and outcomes.
  • Meets the demands of payers and insurers to provide necessary information for internal assessment of care.
  • Improves quality, care coordination and compliance with national care guidelines.