Overview
The Facility Information Profile System (FIPS) is a data sharing project that benefits both consumers and providers of cancer care
Consumers Benefit from FIPS
FIPS is a Commission on Cancer data-sharing project, designed to offer patients information about cancer care at CoC-Accredited hospitals. The goal of FIPS is to meet the needs of today's consumers by providing useful information to cancer patients and the general public. FIPS helps people make educated decisions about their options for cancer care based on both the scope of services and the quality of care offered at hospitals accredited by the CoC. With a better understanding of cancer treatment options and available resources and services, patients and their loved ones can ask more specific questions of physicians and cancer care providers to assist with their health care needs.
How Patients Find the Information about Your Cancer Program
Using FIPS, a Web-based application, a hospital enters two types, or levels, of information about their CoC-accredited cancer program. Level I information refers to the resources and services a hospital cancer program provides to cancer patients and their families either on-site or by referral. Level II information is cancer caseload data that includes cancer cases diagnosed and treated at the hospital within a specified year by site and stage. No patient outcome data is included in FIPS. [Level II data is based on the information that programs submit to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB).] Read more about the NCDB.
Through FIPS, your Level I data are available to consumers on the CoC Find an Accredited Cancer Program Near You locator. The locator allows the public to search for your facility in many ways including zip code, city and state, hospital name, resources and services offered.
Although your facility’s Level I data are automatically displayed, sharing Level II data with the public is at the discretion of your hospital’s cancer committee.Providers Benefit from FIPS
FIPS creates awareness of your hospital’s cancer care offerings among potential patients. For each CoC-accredited cancer program, FIPS offers a unique opportunity to:
- increase your hospital’s visibility as a public resource
- market particular strengths and services
- promote quality cancer care within the community.
For questions regarding FIPS, please e-mail CoC@facs.org.
Revised January 14, 2010