Profile Definitions and Methodology

A hospital's cancer program approval status is provided by The American College of Surgeons (ACS) Commission on Cancer (CoC) Approvals Program and is updated on an annual basis.

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) Approvals Program encourages hospitals, treatment centers, and other facilities to improve their quality of patient care through various cancer-related programs. These programs are concerned with prevention, early diagnosis, pretreatment evaluation, staging, optimal treatment, rehabilitation, surveillance for recurrent disease, support services, and end-or-life care.

The availability of a full range of medical services along with a multidisciplinary team approach to patient care at approved cancer programs has resulted in approximately 80 percent of all newly diagnosed cancer patients being treated in CoC-approved cancer programs.

Recognizing that cancer is a complex group of diseases, the CoC Cancer Program Standards promote consultation among surgeons, medical and radiation oncologists, diagnostic radiologists, pathologists, and other cancer specialists. This multidisciplinary cooperation results in improved patient care.

Categories of approval include:

• Network Cancer Program (NCP)
  The organization owns multiple facilities providing integrated cancer care and offers comprehensive services. Generally, networks are characterized by a network-wide cancer committee or functional equivalent, standardized registry operations, with a uniform data repository, and coordinated service locations and practitioners. The network provides one or more inpatient medical oncology units and participates in cancer-related clinical research.
• NCI-designated program (NCIP) Comprehensive Cancer Program
  The facility secures a National Cancer Institute peer-reviewed Cancer Center Support Grant and is designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center Program by the NCI. A full range of diagnostic and treatment services and staff physicians with major specialty boards, including those in oncology are available. The facility provides an inpatient medical oncology unit and participates in both basic and clinical cancer-related research.
• Teaching Hospital Cancer Program (THCP)
  The facility is associated with a medical school and participates in the training of residents in at lease four areas, two of which are medicine and surgery. The facility offers the full range of diagnostic and treatment services, on-site or by referral. The medical staff are board-certified in the major medical specialties, including oncology. The facility provides an inpatient medical oncology unit and participates in cancer-related clinical research.
• Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Program (COMP)
  Except for special cases, the facility accessions 650 or more cases annually and provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services that are available on-site or by referral. The medical staff are board certified in major medical specialties, including oncology. The facility provides an inpatient medical oncology unit or functional equivalent and participates in cancer-related clinical research.
• Community Hospital Cancer Program (CHCP)
  The facility accessions between 100 and 649 cases annually and provides a full range of diagnostic and treatment services, but referral for a portion of treatment is common. The medical staff are board certified in the major medical specialties. The facility provides a functional equivalent of a medical oncology unit and may participate in cancer-related clinical research.
• Hospital Associate Cancer Program (HACP)
  The facility accessions between 50 and 99 cases annually and has a limited range of diagnostic and treatment services on-site. Other services are available by referral. The facility provides a functional equivalent of a medical oncology unit and may participate in cancer-related clinical research.
• Affiliate Hospital Cancer Program (ACP)
  The facility has limited access to services on-site and accessions between 1 and 49 cases annually. The facility forms a partnership with a sponsoring hospital facility to provide access to the full range of diagnostic and treatment services. Participation in cancer-related clinical research is not required.

The American College of Surgeons does not warrant or make any guarantees or assurances related to outcomes of treatment provided by institutions that have cancer programs approved by the Commission on Cancer.