What Is the NAPRC?
The National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer (NAPRC) was developed through a collaboration between The OSTRiCH Consortium (Optimizing the Surgical Treatment of Rectal Cancer) and the Commission on Cancer (CoC), a quality program of the American College of Surgeons.
The NAPRC’s goal is to ensure patients with rectal cancer receive appropriate care using a multidisciplinary approach. The NAPRC is based on successful international models that emphasize:
Program Structure
Establishing a rectal cancer multidisciplinary team comprised of trained and qualified physicians and coordinators
Patient Care Processes
Researching supported protocols and processes for rectal cancer care
Performance Improvement
Data collection and monitoring to track care processes, treatment, compliance, and patient outcomes
Performance Measures
Verifying adherence to evidence-based procedures, including total mesorectal excision, pathological assessment, and MRI staging and reporting
Steven D. Wexner, MD, PhD (hon), FACS, FRCS, FRCS (ED)
discusses the history behind the development of the NAPRC.