Cancer Programs News: May 28

NAPRC Accreditation Is Linked to Better Outcomes

Patients treated at hospitals accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) were less likely to have cancer left behind after surgery—a major factor for recurrence, according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons (JACS). 

Researchers found that NAPRC-accredited hospitals delivered higher-quality care on several key measures compared with nonaccredited hospitals, including more comprehensive presurgical testing and improved surgical outcomes.

“Rectal cancer treatment is complex, and these findings show that specialized, accredited programs from the ACS can make a meaningful difference for patients,” said study coauthor Ronald J. Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, Medical Director, ACS Cancer Programs. “For patients and families facing a rectal cancer diagnosis, these findings reinforce the importance of asking where care is being received and whether a hospital has been accredited.”

Missing SEER Data May Create Cancer “Blind Spots”

A significant number of cancer patients—particularly those with advanced cancers who are more likely to receive care at community hospitals, safety net hospitals, and rural medical centers—may have incomplete case information in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database, according to a study published in JACS.

Patients treated at centers that were not accredited by the Commission on Cancer (CoC) were more than two-to-three times more likely to have missing data in the SEER database than those who went to CoC-accredited facilities. Study authors suggest using multiple data sources for research, such as both SEER and the National Cancer Database^® (NCDB^®). 

Learn About Site Visit Preparation at ACS QSCC

Join us at the 2026 ACS Quality, Safety & Cancer Conference (QSCC), July 30–August 2 in Orlando, Florida, for the Cancer Leaders Roundtable: From a Leader’s Perspective. This interactive session brings together leaders from health systems, nursing, and the C-suite to explore what drives engagement in cancer quality efforts. Attendees will gain insight into leadership priorities, decision-making processes, and strategies for advancing and sustaining quality initiatives. Attendees will hear directly from program leaders and gain valuable perspectives to support their own programs.

Preparing for Success: Expert Insights from CoC, NAPBC, and NAPRC Site Reviewers is an essential session for attendees anticipating their next accreditation site visit. Experienced reviewers will provide practical guidance and discuss common pitfalls, key expectations, and proven strategies to strengthen documentation, processes, and overall readiness.

Register now to secure your spot and view the program agenda to start planning your QSCC experience.

Apply for  Committee Membership and Leadership Roles

Committee Membership

ACS Cancer Programs is seeking applications for volunteer committee members. The application process, available to ACS Fellows, is open until June 5. New members will be announced after the ACS Clinical Congress in September.

New committee members are appointed to a 3-year term and are eligible for reappointment to a second 3-year term based on performance, which includes a formal assessment of meeting attendance and engagement.

The American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) is also seeking liaison members with expertise in the following: medical oncology, radiation oncology, radiology (with a focus on oncology), and pathology.

Learn more and apply at the links below:

• AJCC
• Cancer Research Program (ACS CRP^®)
• Cancer Surgery Standards Program (CSSP)
• CoC
• National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC)

Committee Leadership

This year’s committee leadership openings include:

AJCC

• Education Committee Chair and Vice Chair

ACS Cancer Programs

• Advocacy Committee Chair and Vice Chair
• Quality Improvement (QI) Chair and Vice Chair

CoC

• Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair
• Committee on Cancer Liaison Chair and Vice Chair
• Quality Assurance and Data Committee Chair and Vice Chair

CSSP

• Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair
• Education Committee Chair

ACS CRP

• Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair

NAPBC

• Accreditation Committee Chair and Vice Chair
• Education Committee Chair and Vice Chair
• Executive Committee Chair and Vice Chair

NAPRC

• Accreditation Committee Vice Chair

Candidates for committee chair and vice-chair roles must be members of the specific cancer program. Candidates for committee chair must have served in a leadership role within the committee, typically as vice chair (some exceptions may apply). All applicants must be ACS Fellows. The application period will close June 5. New leaders will be announced in September.

Committee chairs are appointed to a 2-year, nonrenewable term. Committee vice chairs are appointed to a 1-year term, with eligibility to renew once. 

• Apply for a committee leader role with CSSP or ACS CRP
• Apply for a committee leader role with AJCC, CoC, NAPBC, NAPRC, or Cancer Programs QI

For questions about the new committee membership and leadership opportunities, contact cpmembership@facs.org.

ACS GSV Program Optimizes Surgical Care for Older Adults

Cancer care providers are seeing a growing number of older adults who require specialized surgical care and support. In fact, adults over age 65 account for the majority of cancer diagnoses and cancer-related surgeries in the US. These patients often face unique risks that can impact recovery, quality of life, and long-term outcomes.

Older adults often have multiple chronic conditions, higher complication rates, and face significant risks like postoperative delirium, which affects up to 25% of elective cases and drives worse outcomes, longer stays, and readmissions. Episodes of postoperative delirium alone can cost an estimated $20,000 per patient, contributing to billions in annual healthcare costs.

The ACS Geriatric Surgery Verification (GSV) Program helps hospitals address these risks through evidence-based, age friendly measures. For ACS CoC-accredited cancer programs, integrating geriatric surgical principles into care can improve outcomes, bolster multidisciplinary care, and strengthen shared decision-making. In addition, the GSV Age-Friendly Level aligns with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirements and enhances quality metrics at hospitals.

Interested in bringing geriatric-focused surgical measures to your cancer program?

• Attend the upcoming GSV and Cancer Programs’ Breakfast at the 2026 QSCC in Orlando, Florida on Saturday, August 1
• Schedule a call with the GSV team to discuss your organization’s goals and readiness or contact us at geriatricsurgery@facs.org

CoC Research Abstracts Close June 8

The CoC 2026 Cancer Research Paper Competition for physicians in training is accepting submissions in the categories of  clinical research and basic science. The call for submissions will close on June 8. 

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, September 26–29 in Washington, DC. 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.

CoC Standard 4.2 Oncology Nursing Credentials FAQs Are Updated

Updated frequently asked questions (FAQs) for CoC Standard 4.2: Oncology Nursing Credentials are now available in the Standards Resource Library in QPort.

The added questions, based on feedback received during a recent webinar,  provide guidance regarding:

• Nurses who are required to meet this standard
• Certifications that meet the requirements of this standard, including clarification on the Oncology Nurse Navigator–Certified Generalist  credential
• Timeframes for the cancer committee review/evaluation
• Competency assessments

Submit questions to the CAnswer Forum.

Dr. Weigel Discusses Findings from NCDB Annual Report

In the latest episode of the Surgical Readings podcast, host Rick Greene, MD, FACS, talks with ACS Cancer Programs Medical Director Ronald J. Weigel, MD, PhD, MBA, FACS, about the January 2026 report from the National Cancer Database® (NCDB^®), which outlines key trends in cancer treatment, as well as outcomes updates for prostate cancer, esophageal cancer, and melanoma. Dr. Weigel also describes the history of the NCDB and future plans that will lead to more rapid and robust insights into cancer occurrence and treatment.

CoC Seeks CLP Feedback for Operative Standards Study 

The Assessing the Effectiveness and Significance of the Operative Standards Program (AESOP) study is a 5-year, multi-institutional initiative funded by the National Cancer Institute. The AESOP team is evaluating how the CoC Operative Standards are implemented and their impact on cancer care. A central component of this work involves collecting insights from CLPs through national surveys.

The Cancer Liaison Physicians (CLPs) at programs undergoing CoC accreditation site visits in June will receive a survey link from REDCap@facs.org. CLPs are asked to complete the 10-to-15-minute survey within 2 weeks of receiving the email. In appreciation for their time, CLPs will receive a $25 gift card upon completion of the survey.

CLP participation is critical to the AESOP study and will inform future work. Contact AESOP@facs.org with questions.

Learn more about the AESOP study in the January issue of the Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons, in which authors discuss the aims and progress of the program.

NAPRC Provides Clarification on Outside MRI Reviews 

The NAPRC frequently asked questions (FAQ) have been updated to address queries related to the review of outside magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for rectal cancer patients. The updated FAQ may be accessed within the Resources section of QPort.

To meet requirements of Standard 5.4, an MRI completed at an outside facility must be reviewed by a Rectal Cancer Multidisciplinary Team (RC-MDT) radiologist at the accredited program.

• If the outside MRI report meets the requirements of the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) template, then a full report does not need to be generated. How that re-review is documented is left to the discretion of the program.
• If the outside MRI does not meet the requirements of the SAR template, then the missing elements must be documented. How the missing elements are documented may be decided by the program administrators.
• In both scenarios, the documentation of the re-review and any missing SAR elements must be signed by either an RC-MDT radiologist or the Rectal Cancer Program (RCP) Director. If the RCP Director signs the document, then it must identify the RC-MDT radiologist who completed the re-review and added any missing elements.

While this expectation has been in place since the release of the 2020 standards, clarification was added to the FAQs regarding who could sign the documentation of the re-review and any missing elements.

There are a variety of ways this process can be accomplished within the workflow. Programs should work with their legal/risk management department to determine the best way to accomplish this process within the boundaries of their local, state, and federal requirements.

Questions may be submitted to the CAnswer Forum.

American Cancer Society Offers Survivorship Resources

June is National Cancer Survivors Month, a time to recognize those who have overcome the disease.

The survivorship section on the American Cancer Society’s website provides information about living well after treatment, managing long-term health concerns, and finding support as a cancer survivor. An informational flyer highlighting programs, services, and resources can help people facing a cancer diagnoses, survivors, and their caregivers at every step of the journey.

Healthcare professionals can register for the American Cancer Society’s Long-Term Survivorship ECHO Program, which will review the knowledge and skills needed to effectively address the complex and evolving long-term needs of people with cancer. The free 6-month program, which begins on June 11, is targeted to multidisciplinary care teams that deliver support for patients living with and beyond cancer. Each monthly session lasts for 1 hour.

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:

AdventHealth Cancer Institute
Merriam, KS

City of Hope Atlanta - Southeastern Regional Medical Center
Newnan, GA

Fairbanks Memorial Hospital
Fairbanks, AK

Franciscan St. James Health
Chicago, IL

HCA Florida Oak Hill Hospital
Brooksville, FL

Iredell Memorial Hospital
Statesville, NC

Lakeland Regional Health
Lakeland, FL

Los Angeles General Medical Center
Los Angeles, CA

Mary Washington Hospital
Fredericksburg, VA

Mission Hospital
Asheville, NC

Mount Auburn Hospital
Cambridge, MA

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center
Lafayette, LA

Premier Health Partners
Dayton, OH

Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley
Pleasanton, CA

Taylor Regional Hospital
Campbellsville, KY

University of California Irvine Medical Center
Orange, CA

WhidbeyHealth Medical Center
Coupeville, WA

NAPBC Recognizes Accredited Sites

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

Allina Health Cancer Institute Piper Breast Center
Minneapolis, MN

Aspirus Women's Health Breast Center
Wausau, WI

Beaufort Memorial Breast Health Center
Beaufort, SC

Breast Center of Greater Waterbury
Waterbury, CT

The Christ Hospital
Cincinnati, OH

The Harold and Dixie LePere Breast Center
Shiloh, IL

Northwell Health Breast Cancer Center at LIJ Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital
New Hyde Park, NY

Pearlie Harris Center for Breast Health
Greenville, SC

Piedmont Macon Medical
Macon, GA

St. Josephs University Medical Center
Paterson, NJ

St. Jude Breast Center
Fullerton, CA

TidalHealth Breast Center
Salisbury, MD

NAPRC Recognizes Accredited Sites

The ACS National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) 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 NAPRC accreditation:

Lankenau Medical Center
Wynnewood, PA

Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center
Charlotte, NC

Mark Your Calendars

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

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

September 26–29: ACS Clinical Congress 2026