Cancer Programs News: April 16

Register Today for the ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference

Healthcare professionals dedicated to advancing surgical quality, patient safety, and cancer care are invited to attend the 2026 ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference (QSCC), July 30–August 1 in Orlando, Florida. Registration is now open.

This year marks a significant milestone as the event brings together the ACS Quality & Safety Conference and the ACS Cancer Conference into one unified, reimagined experience. By fully integrating cancer care into the program and engaging the entire multidisciplinary care team, QSCC reflects the complexity, coordination, and collaboration that are essential components of modern healthcare delivery.

General sessions will offer expertise on topics related to artificial intelligence,  education, quality improvement (QI), rural cancer care, and other hot topics. In response to evolving educational needs, many sessions have been redesigned to be more interactive and case based.

The conference features more than 50 breakout sessions, 26 abstract podium presentations, and expanded cancer-focused programming across multiple specialty areas, including bariatric, cancer, geriatric, emergency general surgery, pediatric, and vascular surgery. New content tracks include data insights, accreditation and verification, QI and patient safety, abstracts and research, hot topics, QI in action, and team-based competencies. This array of programming is intended to allow participants to tailor their experience to their specific interests and roles.

Visit the QSCC webpage for more information.

Timely Lung Cancer Surgery, Cancer Modernization Act Highlighted in Bulletin

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the US, but patients diagnosed at an early stage (stages I and II) have an improved chance of survival when treated with surgical resection. Authors examine the significance of prompt cancer care delivery in the April issue of the Bulletin of American College of Surgeons.

Another article in the April issue provides an update on the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act, which is intended to reduce barriers related to treatment options and delays.

Study Probes NAPBC and NAPRC Accreditation Barriers

The ACS CoC and ACS CRP^® are seeking participants for a national study to examine the barriers and facilitators to obtaining National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) and the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC)accreditation. The goal of the study is to identify strategies that make accreditation more valuable and attainable for programs varying in size, structure, and resources.

The study team is looking for sites that are CoC-accredited but are not currently NAPBC and/or NAPRC accredited. Programs that previously held or considered pursuing NAPRC or NAPBC accreditation are encouraged to participate; however, programs that have never considered NAPBC or NAPRC accreditation are also welcome to partake in the study.

Participation involves a 30–45-minute virtual interview between a program clinician or administrative stakeholder and a member of the research team. Responses will be kept confidential and reported only in aggregate. No incentives, including credit for any CoC standard, are provided for participation in the survey.

If you are interested in participating in the study, contact Raheem Bell, rbell@facs.org.

Nominate an Outstanding CLP

The CoC is accepting nominations for the annual CLP Outstanding Performance Award. To submit a nomination, complete this survey by May 4. The CoC State Chair CLP Education Advisory Group will review the nominations and choose the award recipients, which will be announced this summer.

CLPs can be nominated by members of an accredited program’s cancer committee, registrars, CoC site reviewers and State Chairs, American Cancer Society regional staff members, and by self-nomination. Cancer care teams from the same institution are encouraged to submit one nomination per CLP if there are multiple nominations. Previous CLP Award winners are not eligible for consideration.

For more information on eligibility criteria and the nomination process, visit the CoC website. Email mleeb@facs.org  with any questions.

NCDB Releases Monthly Submission Compliance Report View

The National Cancer Database^® (NCDB)  released the monthly Submission Compliance Report as a new view in the Rapid Cancer Reporting System Submission Compliance Report.

The existing report tracks submission of complete cases (90%) by diagnosis year relative to prior calendar year submissions. The annual submission compliance report is intended to help registrars build toward final complete case submission by December 31 of a given year.

The new monthly view tracks submissions made monthly for all new and resubmitted cases, regardless of diagnosis year. It also tracks the average number of days between a new case’s date of first contact and the first date of submission for that case.

The monthly report tracks all cases submitted, not just complete cases, so the totals across the two reports will not match. Both reports may be referenced in relation to compliance with CoC Standard 6.4.

Make an Impact with Free Melanoma Awareness Month Resources

To help your program promote Melanoma Awareness Month in May, the CoC has developed customizable posters that can be downloaded from the Marketing Resources section in QPort. Contact coc@facs.org with any questions.

Submit Your Research for 2026 CoC Paper Competition

The CoC is accepting submissions from physicians in training  for the 2026 Cancer Research Paper Competition through June 8. Categories for submission are clinical research and basic science. The first-place recipients will be awarded a $1,000 honorarium and an opportunity to present their papers at the CoC’s Plenary Session during the 2026 Clinical Congress in September. Second- and third-place recipients will each receive $500.

More information on eligibility, requirements, and awards is available on the CoC website. Submissions should be sent to mleeb@facs.org.

Dr. Kirstein Discusses How Data Are Shaping Cancer Care

CoC Chair Laurie J. Kirstein, MD, FACS, was interviewed by Frederick L. Greene, MD, FACS, about her vision and priorities for the CoC and the essential role Oncology Data Specialists play in advancing cancer care. Listen to the episode of the Cancer Registry World podcast for more information.

Register Today for April 21 NAPRC Standards Webinar

Stay current with the latest updates to the NAPRC standards by registering for the webinar on April 21. This informative session will provide an overview of the 2026 standards and template updates, including a detailed look at key revisions and enhancements.

Webinar participants will gain valuable insights into how these changes may impact their program’s documentation processes and overall compliance. The webinar will also offer practical guidance to help programs effectively prepare for and implement the updated requirements.

Review the CoC Smoking Cessation Standard

Smoking cessation reduces the risk of developing many cancers and is one of the most important actions individuals can take to improve their health and reduce their risk for cancer.

Register today to view the recording of the CoC webinar Smoking Cessation Across the Continuum of Lung Cancer Risk, Treatment, and Survival. Presenters discussed the value of tobacco cessation interventions and provided an overview of compliance requirements for CoC Standard 5.9: Smoking Cessation for Patients with Cancer.

The National Cancer Registrars Association and California Board of Registered Nursing are offering 1 continuing education for this webinar.

American Cancer Society Offers New Resources

• The American Cancer Society’s QIResource Consulting (QIRC) program offers cancer centers a unique opportunity to address measurable problems impacting patient access or care, at no cost. This 6-9-month program pairs centers with an experienced quality improvement coach to address the defined problem using a rigorous approach and methodology. The deadline to submit the QIRC program application is June 30 at 7:00 pm CT. Successful applicants will be notified by July 22. For questions, email QIResource@cancer.org.
• The American Cancer Society healthcare professional webpage offers easy access to resources that support both care teams and patients. The new site brings together evidence-based guidelines, patient education materials and resources, research data, collaboration opportunities, events, and advocacy to support clinical practices and professional development.
• Cancer care team members are encouraged to register for the American Cancer Society’s upcoming Understanding Multi-Cancer Detection Testing ECHO program. The program will equip multidisciplinary cancer care team members and primary care clinicians with a foundational understanding of multi-cancer detection tests and will provide support for evidence-based communication regarding these tests and their results. Sessions will be held monthly at 10:00 am CT on Tuesdays, April 28 through August 25.

CoC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS CoC recognizes the following cancer sites for demonstrating their commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning CoC reaccreditation:

Cambridge Health Alliance
Cambridge, MA

Cape Cod Healthcare
Hyannis, MA

CHI Health St. Elizabeth
Lincoln, NE

Cleveland Clinic Martin North Hospital
Stuart, FL

Crozer-Chester Medical Center
Upland, PA

LAC-Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Torrance, CA

Memorial Hospital and Health Care Center
Jasper, IN

Naval Medical Center Portsmouth
Portsmouth, VA

North Kansas City Hospital
Kansas City, MO

OhioHealth Doctors Hospital
Columbus, OH

Sharp Health Care
San Diego, CA

Trinity Regional Medical Center
Fort Dodge, IA

University of Missouri/Ellis Fischel Cancer Center
Columbia, MO

UPMC Williamsport
Williamsport, PA

Virginia Mason Medical Center
Seattle, WA

Willis-Knighton Medical Center
Shreveport, LA

NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Site

The ACS NAPBC recognizes the following breast site for demonstrating its commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPBC reaccreditation:

Baptist Health - Lexington
Lexington, KY

CHI Saint Joseph Health
Lexington, KY

Marian Regional Medical Center - Mission Hope Cancer Center
Santa Maria, CA

Ochsner MD Anderson Cancer Center
New Orleans, LA

Rush Copley Medical Center
Aurora, IL

Vassar Brothers Medical Center
Poughkeepsie, NY

The Women's Health Center
Honolulu, HI

NAPRC Recognizes Accredited Site

The ACS National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) recognizes the following cancer site for demonstrating its commitment to providing high-quality, patient-centered cancer care to patients and the community by recently earning NAPRC accreditation:

St. David's North Austin Medical Center
Austin, TX

Mark Your Calendars

April 21: NAPRC Standards Update

May 6: Technical Standards for Gastric Surgery

May 28: NAPBC: Integrative Oncology: Building, Implementing, and Leveraging Services to Improve Patient Care

July 30–August 2: Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference

September 26–29: ACS Clinical Congress 2026