February 2002
Highlights for the month:
American College of Surgeons Supports Value of Screening Mammography
The American College of Surgeons cosigned a Letter to the Editor, along with 19 major cancer organizations, that appeared in the February 3, 2002 issue of The New York Times. The letter expresses our concern that the ongoing discussion in the press about the value of screening mammography might discourage women from having appropriate examinations. Officially submitted to the Times by Dr. Larry Norton, president of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the letter appears in its entirety on the Cancer page of the College Web site in the News and Events section at http://www.facs.org/dept/cancer/cannews.html.
Highlights
New Surveyor Training Still Scheduled for March
The New Surveyor Training scheduled for March 8-9, 2002 will still be held even though the CoC March Workshop for cancer professionals has been canceled. For questions and information, please contact Nancy Etzold at netzold@facs.org.
Highlights
CoC and AJCC On-site Presentations
The CoC and AJCC are pleased to make several educational opportunities available to our constituents beginning July 2002. These instructional presentations will include:
- AJCC Cancer Staging Manual 6th Edition for Cancer Registrars or Physicians
- Collaborative Stage System for Cancer Registrars or Physicians
- Revisions to ROADS for 2003 for Cancer Registrars
- NCDB Benchmark Reports for Cancer Program Staff
- Approvals Standards/Survey Savvy for Cancer Program Staff
- Benefits of a CoC-Approved Cancer Program
- Role of the Cancer Liaison Physician for Cancer Registrars
If you would like to request a speaker for a meeting, please visit our Web site for more details and to obtain the Presentation Request Form that you will need to complete and submit. The Web address is http://www.facs.org/dept/cancer/coc/presrequests.html.
Highlights
Further Update on Coding Surgery for Melanoma Through 2002
The principal distinction between skin (or melanoma) surgery codes 40 (Wide excision or re-excision of lesion or minor amputation) and 50 (Radical excision of a lesion) is the extent of surrounding tissue removed. The type of surgical procedure documented in the medical record operative notes can be used to assign the correct code.
Highlights
Facilities Encouraged to Participate in FIPS and Offer Feedback
The Facility Information Profile System data sharing project with the American Cancer Society (ACS) is completely operational. To date, 578 approved cancer programs have released their resources and services information to the ACS Web site, www.cancer.org. Of these facilities, 239 have released 1999 NCDB caseload data. The public can now browse participating facilities' information in the Commission on Cancer Hospital Locator section of the ACS site.
The CoC would like to thank those facilities that have made the effort to enter and maintain their facility information. All FIPS data changes made by facilities will be reflected on the American Cancer Society site within 24 hours. Cancer registrars at approved programs who have not already done so are encouraged to complete FIPS information at their earliest convenience. Please take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to market your approved program's services to cancer patients around the country. If you have any questions about the FIPS project, please contact fips@facs.org, and we will be happy to assist you.
The CoC is also compiling feedback we receive about the new system. We're working to make the site more user friendly, minimize technical difficulties, and improve communications about FIPS. In order to improve FIPS and the data sharing project with the American Cancer Society, please send your comments to fips@facs.org. In addition, if your facility does not plan to participate, please let us know as soon as possible.
Highlights
FAQs for Gastric and Lung PCEs Online
Do you have a question or need assistance? An updated list of frequently asked questions regarding the NCDB's Gastric and Lung PCEs is available on our Web site at http://www.facs.org/dept/cancer/ncdb/index.html. If you need other assistance, please contact Mary Jo Strebel at mstrebel@facs.org.
Highlights
CLP Reappointment Letters Mailed
Reappointment letters were recently mailed to cancer registrars for those cancer liaison physicians whose terms expired in January 2002. We urge cancer registrars to pay close attention to these letters as we are asking for a timely response. The cancer committee is responsible for making the decision regarding reappointment or replacement of the cancer liaison physician. If reappointment is approved; simply fill out the reappointment form and return it. If a replacement is recommended; please complete and return both the Reappointment Form and the Membership Application. Cancer liaison physicians are appointed for three-year terms, so only institutions with cancer liaison physicians who were appointed in January 1999 will have received a reappointment notice. Please contact Iris Velazquez with questions you may have at ivelazquez@facs.org, or by phone at 312/202-5287.
Highlights
Cancer Program Standards (CPS) Workgroup Established
A letter from David Winchester, MD, FACS, medical director, Cancer Programs, was recently sent to cancer committee chairs and cancer liaison physicians at approved programs. It presents information relating to the CoC's upcoming activities to evaluate and revise it's cancer program standards. If you would like to review the contents of the letter, it will be posted our News and Events page at http://www.facs.org/dept/cancer/cannews.html.
Highlights
Have You Used I&R Lately?
The Inquiry and Response System (I&R) was launched on our Web site in 1999 as a tool for assisting the oncology community with questions about Commission on Cancer and American Joint Committee on Cancer programs. Today, I&R serves as a continuously changing library of questions submitted by the oncology community and answers provided by our knowledgeable technical staff and advisors. I & R has thousands of questions and answers from inquiries relating to staging, cancer program and data standards, and patient care evaluation studies.
The system is user-friendly and the database is updated daily, so a search can be made by topic or date. To use the library, enter a few key words or select a Class of Question and you will see the answers to questions corresponding to your subject. To monitor the latest questions, enter a date to see questions posted after that date or ask for questions submitted between two dates.
Besides searching for questions already posted on the I&R system, don't forget that you can always submit new questions. Our I & R Team meets once a week to review and answer your questions and, if clinical expertise is needed, the question is directed to a specialist in the field. Generally, the response time is a day to a few weeks, depending on the nature or complexity of the question. To access I &R, go to our site at http://www.facs.org/dept/cancer/index.html, and click on the I & button. If you have any questions or suggestions for the system, please contact sslater@facs.org.
Highlights
To Subscribe to CoC Flash
CoC Flash is e-mailed automatically each month to individuals for whom the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons has an e-mail address. If you wish to continue to receive the newsletter on a monthly basis, you need do nothing. You can discontinue your subscription by writing to coc@facs.org and requesting that your name be deleted from the database. Individuals not currently receiving the newsletter may subscribe to the publication by sending an e-mail containing your name, address, telephone and fax numbers to coc@facs.org, and asking to be added to our electronic distribution database.
To Submit Information
CoC Flash will accept submissions received by the third week of each month. However, the CoC reserves the right to decide whether or not the materials are appropriate for inclusion. Information for CoC Flash should be timely, newsworthy, brief, and of use and interest to the constituents of the Commission, which include cancer registrars, liaison physicians, cancer committee chairs, and other cancer-oriented health care professionals. To submit material, send it to coc@facs.org.
The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard setting, and the monitoring of quality care. CoC Flash is a monthly news service for constituents of the CoC provided by the Commission and the Cancer Program of the American College of Surgeons.
CoC Flash
Commission on Cancer
