CHICAGO: This month, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) will launch a year-long campaign to celebrate its 100-year anniversary following an announcement on October 20, 2021 at the CoC Plenary Session. During the next 12 months, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) will recognize the achievements of its accredited cancer programs, member organizations, and leadership in helping to improve the quality of care for cancer patients.
Established by the American College of Surgeons in 1922, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to establishing standards to ensure quality, multidisciplinary, and comprehensive cancer care. Since its founding, the CoC has expanded its mission to improve survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care through compliance standards, data collection and analysis.
Individuals and representatives of more than 50 cancer-related organizations comprise the membership of the CoC and contribute to the development of the CoC standards and accreditation program. Today, there are more than 1,500 CoC-accredited cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico. When cancer patients choose to seek care locally at a CoC-accredited cancer center, they are gaining access to comprehensive, state-of-the-art cancer care close to home.
“Over the past century, the organizations and individuals represented in the CoC have consistently and tirelessly advanced the quality and standards of cancer care,” said CoC Chair Timothy Mullett, MD, FACS. “By achieving CoC accreditation, the 1,500-plus accredited cancer programs in the United States and Puerto Rico, treating more than 70 percent of patients with cancer in this country, are working to provide their patients with the highest quality, evidence-based care.”
To celebrate its 100-year anniversary, the CoC will publish a commemorative booklet highlighting the accomplishments of the CoC, the accredited programs, and member organizations. In addition to the booklet, the CoC will also release:
- An issue of The Bulletin of the American College of Surgeons (January 2022) devoted to the 100-year anniversary, featuring stories from CoC leaders highlighting the importance of the Commission, surgical standards, and the impact of quality cancer care
- A video series with past and current leaders of the Commission and ACS Cancer Programs speaking on their contributions to the program and the overall impact of the CoC and ACS Cancer Programs
- Feature articles highlighting the history and past accomplishments of its accredited programs and member groups; presented on a dedicated microsite, click HERE.
- Reviews of medical journal articles that feature data from the National Cancer Database
The campaign will conclude at the 2022 ACS Clinical Congress.
“Since 1922, the CoC has been setting standards and accrediting cancer programs to ensure the provision of high-quality cancer care,” said ACS Cancer Programs Medical Director Heidi Nelson, MD, FACS. “While we celebrate the CoC’s proud 100-year history of excellence in the coming year, we also will continue to focus on new, innovative, evidence-based approaches for developing compassionate, standardized care that is coordinated to treat the whole patient.”
The CoC and the ACS Cancer Programs are leaders in setting standards for compassionate, personalized care that is coordinated to treat the whole patient. The 100-year anniversary celebrates the CoC’s lasting dedication to quality cancer care. To learn more about the CoC and receive updates on 100-year anniversary events, visit: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/coc.
For additional background information on CoC accreditation, click here.
Established in 1922 by the ACS, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information on the CoC, visit: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/coc.
About the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
Established in 1922 by the ACS, the CoC is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving patient outcomes and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information on the CoC, visit: https://www.facs.org/quality-programs/cancer/coc.
