Specialty Groups — Oncology
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACOS-CoC) Liaison Report
The Outstanding Achievement Award recognizing excellence in quality cancer care was introduced with the “Cancer Program Standards 2004″. There are seven standards with a ‘commendation” rating. These are 2.11, 3.7, 4.3, 4.6, 5.2, 6.2, and 8.2. Two standards that were originally part of the “commendation” rated standards have been excluded. Standard 3.3 – Abstracting timeliness – was excluded because of the abstracting extension granted for the completion of 2003 cases. Standard 7.2 – Registrar education – was excluded due to a mid-year change in the commendation criteria. For more information on the standards or the surveyed programs earning the CoC Outstanding Achievement Award, go to their Web site at www.facs.org/cancer.
The ACoS-CoC Report was prepared by ACOA/ACoS-CoC liaison, Jeannie O’Leary. Her role as liaison is to enhance our relationship and collaboration by providing a forum for the exchange of ideas, initiatives, critical issues, and actions that impact cancer care, data collection, and research. We have the opportunity to bring matters of importance for ACOA to the CoC, as well as communicate CoC activities to the ACOA. If you have input on particular issues regarding credentialing and ACoS standards, please contact Jeannie O’Leary.