American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer  (ACOS-CoC) Liaison Report

The Implementation of the CAP Anatomic Protocols in Commission-Approved Cancer Programs has been delayed until January 1, 2004.  The CAP protocols and checklists for the most common tumors is currently being revised and will be available in groups over the next 5 months for down load from the CAP Web site (http://www.cap.org).  Revisions for the first group are not out yet.  In light of the delay until 2004, the new Cancer Program Standards, targeted for release in April 2003, which includes a standard (3.13) to address use of the CAP protocols, programs surveyed in the second half of 2003 using the new standards will be exempt from this requirement.  Commission-Approved Cancer Programs should continue to discuss the forthcoming standard within their cancer committees and pathology departments, develop implementation plans, and review the revised protocols and checklists as they become available.

If you have input on particular issues regarding credentialing and ACOS standards, please contact Jeannie O’Leary through the American College of Oncology Administrators/ American Academy of Medical Administrators at 701 Lee Street, Suite 600, Des Plaines, IL 60016, 847-759-8601-Phone, 847-759-8602-FAX, email info@aameda.org, or at the website: www.aameda.org. For more information on the ACOS-COC, visit their website: www.facs.org/dept/cancer