* The COVID-19 Accreditation Tracker may not be used in lieu of standard compliance.
Networks
If you are interested in applying as a new Integrated Network Cancer Program (INCP) or National Cancer Institute-Designated Network Cancer Program (NCIN), please review the Guidelines to Form an INCP/NCIN.
New Program Checklist
Applications should not be submitted until the program can demonstrate one calendar year of compliance.
Pre-Submission
Submission
- Complete the online application
- Verify that the program has a current Business Associate and Data Use Agreement (BA/DUA) agreement with the American College of Surgeons. Programs that currently participate in any of the ACS quality improvement programs do not need to sign another BA/DUA agreement. If your program does not have a BA/DUA with the ACS, please send an e-mail requesting a blank BA/DUA for completion.
- Complete the site profile once you receive notification that the application is processed.
- Receive an initial accreditation fee invoice after the Site Profile has been completed.
- Receive full access to the Quality Portal (QPort) upon receipt of payment, which includes access to the Pre-Review Questionnaire (PRQ) and the ability to submit four preferred dates for the initial site visit. (Please note that when submitting preferred site review dates, the PRQ will need to be submitted no later than 60 prior to the site visit.)
Post-Submission
- Receive formal notification of the site visit date.
- Undergo a site visit by a CoC-trained Site Reviewer.
- Receive the Accreditation Report, which documents the site visit results, within 45 days of the site visit or as soon as practical thereafter.
- Submit data to the National Cancer Database after receipt of the Accreditation Report indicating Accredited status.
- Before Accredited status is granted, corrective action must be completed for any non-compliant standards noted in the accreditation report.
- Programs undergoing an initial site review that have more than the allotted number of non-compliant standards will be rated Not Accredited and will need to reapply for accreditation after one calendar year. Please see the standards manual for more details.
- Promote your CoC accreditation after achieving Accredited status.
Benefits of CoC Accreditation
Access to the Rapid Cancer Reporting System and other Reporting Tools
Facilitated by programs’ monthly submissions to the Rapid Cancer Reporting System (RCRS), CoC-accredited programs are provided with access to web-based tools to support quality improvement, community assessment, and cancer program administration. The tools can be used to:
- Evaluate and compare the cancer care delivered to patients diagnosed and/or treated at your facility with other CoC-accredited facilities at the state, regional, and national levels
- Identify areas for quality improvement to ensure that patients receive the right treatment at the right time
- Compare quality-related performance measures with aggregated CoC-accredited programs, including accountability, quality improvement, and surveillance measures
- Assess performance across multiple disease sites
- Run benchmark reports to drive quality improvement and quality assurance activities
- Track and analyze data on all types of cancer to:
- Explore trends in cancer care
- Review regional and state benchmarks for CoC-accredited facilities
- Serve as the basis for quality improvement
- Access participant user files so that investigators can advance the quality of care delivered to patients with cancer
RCRS reporting tools assist CoC-accredited programs with addressing data quality issues, identifying patient care challenges, and focusing their performance improvement efforts in a way that benefits the patient.
Education and Training
Web-based education and in-person workshops are offered to educate you about the standards and reporting tools, best practices to support compliance with the standards, and tips and techniques for preparing for the site visit.
Tools and Templates
Resources are provided to assist in recording and tracking cancer program activity for select standards in between and in preparation for site visits.
Program Support
Access is provided to the CAnswer Forum online community to ask questions, search topics, and connect with cancer program colleagues across the country to share best practices.
Marketing Resources
Promotion materials are provided to market your CoC-accreditation to your community with a variety of resources, including certificates, posters, and banner stands. Your cancer program is also promoted to the public through the American College of Surgeons Find a CoC Accredited Program tool.
