CoC Standards Updates

The Commission on Cancer (CoC) has released an updated version of its accreditation standards, Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards). Please review the CoC Standards and the CoC Standards Changelog for complete information on these updates. A few of the most substantive updates are featured below. The updated standards and changelog are now available on the CoC website.

Standard 1.1 – Administrative Commitment

The letter of commitment includes examples of current and future initiatives promoting equitable and inclusive healthcare practices and a culture of safety for providers and patients.

Standard 2.2 – Cancer Liaison Physician

This standard has been updated to clarify that the CLP reports required by this standard cannot also satisfy the requirements for Standard 6.4: Rapid Cancer Reporting System: Data Submission.

Standard 4.8 – Survivorship Program

This standard has been updated to clarify that survivorship services must address the needs of cancer survivors who have completed their first course of treatment. Services evaluated to meet this standard cannot be single events and must be available to patients throughout the calendar year or at specific intervals during the calendar year.

Standard 6.4: Rapid Cancer Reporting System: Data Submission

This standard has been updated to clarify that the reports required by this standard cannot also satisfy the requirements for Standard 2.2: Cancer Liaison Physician.

Standard 7.3 – Quality Improvement Initiatives

This standard has been updated to include the suggested focus for developing a quality improvement initiative using data to identify problems related to culture competency, individualized shared decision making, and the implementation of health equity interventions in the cancer program.

For more information on the CoC standards, Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards), visit the CoC website. Questions regarding the CoC accreditation standards should be submitted through the CAnswer Forum.