• The partnership should focus on:
  • Identifying data and issues
  • Developing cancer control strategies
  • Implementing cancer control interventions
  • Evaluating programs and activities to effect cancer control.
• Contact the local American Cancer Society (ACS) division office or regional planning staff person for the name and contact information for the cancer control staff person in your area.
• Contact the ACS cancer control staff person to initiate a meeting and include your cancer registrar.
  • Cancer liaison physicians can assist with strategizing, serving as a conduit for information, identifying resources, and connecting the cancer control staff person to key hospital staff and staff from other institutions/organizations/businesses.
  • Give an overview of the role of the cancer liaison physician and define the mission and programs of the Commission on Cancer - many cancer control staff are not familiar with the work of the Commission.
  • Explore activities or areas of interest between the ACS division and hospital to determine possible projects. Select a project that is well defined and task oriented.
  • Identify ways in which the cancer liaison physician and Commission on Cancer-approved cancer program can contribute to ACS division goals and objectives. The ACS cancer control staff person may want to discuss and explore collaboration in the following areas:
    • Review data from the cancer registry and discuss how it can contribute to ACS community assessments;
    • Develop strategies to increase facility and health care provider referrals to ACS services, such as screening and support services.
    • Engage in joint outreach activities for prevention or early detection programs.
    • Develop a plan to increase the capacity to delivery screenings in the community, etc...
  • Discuss strategies for establishing a more effective working relationship. Arrange regular, brief meetings to review the partnership and obtain an update of each organization's activities, and discuss the status of ongoing projects.
• Invite the cancer control staff person to become a member or regular participant in cancer committee meetings, OR invite the cancer control staff person to make a presentation to the cancer committee on the activities of the division. Continue on a regular basis.
• Share positive experiences/successes with Cancer Liaison Program staff to build best practices for sharing with other cancer liaison physicians.

Online July 31, 2003

Cancer Liaison Physician Resource Area

Cancer Liaison Program

Commission on Cancer

Cancer Programs

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by the American College of Surgeons, Chicago, IL 60611-3211