Appointment Process
How to Become a Cancer Liaison Physician
How are Cancer Liaison Physicians Evaluated?
How to Become a Cancer Liaison Physician
Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) are selected by their respective facility's cancer committee. CLPs serve a three-year term and are eligible for an unlimited number of terms based on performance and evaluation through the Survey Application Record (SAR), Cancer Liaison Physician Activity Report, and compliance with the Standards reviewed at the time of survey. Replacement of the CLP may occur during the course of a three-year term at the discretion of the facility's cancer committee.
In order to become a CLP at a facility, you must have an interest in fulfilling the role and responsibilities outlined and fit the following criteria:
- Be a member of the active medical staff, and must be dedicated to improving the quality of care delivered to cancer patients
- Be an active member of the cancer committee
- Willing to monitor, analyze, and interpret the data that tracks the program’s performance on quality metrics
- Willing to serve as the liaison between the cancer program, the Commission on Cancer, and the American Cancer Society
Most recently, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) mandated that in order for a CLP to be appointed and receive communications from the Commission, it is now required that a CLP must have e-mail. The Commission relies on this form of communication to share pertinent and crucial information with the CLPs. This includes, but is not limited to, receiving a UserID and Password to CoC Datalinks, which allows access to CoC password protected programs involving the facility, such as the Facility Information Profile System (FIPS), Survey Application Record (SAR), and the National Cancer Database (NCDB) Hospital Comparison Benchmark Reports; Quarterly CLP Updates; and the CoC Flash.
If your facility has not given your CLP an e-mail account, the Commission suggests that the CLP create a personal account or designate an e-mail address where communications can be sent and accessed regularly.
If you are a physician who is interested in serving as the CLP at your facility or are a cancer program staff looking to fill the role, you must complete the following steps:
- Review the CLP membership criteria above which are required to fill the role.
- Contact your facility's cancer committee chair to discuss your interest in the role (or a recommendation for appointment).
- Request that the cancer committee chair consider recommending you (or the physician) for the role to the cancer committee. If the facility already has a CLP in place, the cancer committee must determine whether they would like to replace the current position or wait until the end of the physician's three-year term. Facilities are requested to have only one CLP.
- If the cancer committee recommends you (or the physician) for appointment, request that the cancer committee chair or cancer registrar complete the electronic Cancer Liaison Physician appointment application.
- Upon receipt of the membership application, Commission on Cancer staff will review it for completeness and bring any concerns to the attention of the respective State Chair for that area. NOTE: A CLP will not be appointed if he/she does not have an e-mail address.
- Following confirmation of approval, the Commission will send a formal appointment letter and orientation packet to the new CLP. The appointment process is completed within one month from receipt of the membership application form.
- All new CLPs are requested to attend an Orientation Web Conference to review the role and responsibilities of the CLP.
- Notification of the new appointment is sent to the facility's administrator, cancer committee chair, cancer registrar, and local American Cancer Society (ACS) contacts.
- Notification of appointment is also submitted to the Communications Department of the American College of Surgeons who prepare a press release, which is mailed to local media outlets.
- Upon expiration of the CLP's term, the Commission on Cancer will send a reappointment letter to the cancer committee chair and cancer registrar. Reappointment should be based on overall performance and evaluation data collected at the time of survey.
- If the cancer committee chooses to reappoint a CLP, then the Commission on Cancer must be notified. Completion of the membership application form is not necessary.
In 2012, a new cancer liaison physician (CLP) standard will outline CLP requirements for the basis of evaluation.
- Report on National Cancer Data Base data four times a year
- Complete Web-based orientation and education
- Complete the CLP activity report as discussed
- Discuss activities with the surveyor during the on-site survey
How are Cancer Liaison Physicians Evaluated?
Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) are required to complete an evaluation of their activity every year during the Annual Update period. The CLP Activity Report is part of the Survey Application Record (SAR).
As part of the Annual Update and prior to the facility’s on-site survey, Cancer Liaison Physicians are required to complete the CLP Activity Report. This questionnaire evaluates CLP involvement at the facility and in support of CoC initiatives. Data collected from the CLP Activity Reports will help the CoC determine whether role clarification or additional support materials and resources are needed.
The appointed CLP should fill out the questionnaire and if the facility has more than one CLP, we ask that the two answer the report collaboratively. On site, the surveyor will verify this information with the CLP.
Reappointment Process
If a cancer committee, from an accredited facility, chooses to reappoint their current cancer liaison physician, an electronic application must be submitted to the Commission on Cancer office. The electronic application can be found at http://www.facs.org/cancer/coc/clpappoint.html. Please make sure to select the reappointment box as your reason for submitting the application.
If a cancer committee, from a non-accredited facility, chooses to reappoint their current cancer liaison physician, an application can be faxed to our office. A printable copy of the application can be found at http://www.facs.org/cancer/coc/clpappoint.html.
New Electronic Cancer Liaison Physician Appointment Application
Printable Cancer Liaison Physician Appointment Application (40K PDF)
Cancer Liaison Physician Information
Revised December 17, 2010