Download Criteria for Cancer Centers of Excellence

An Employer’s Guide to Cancer Treatment & Prevention
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Criteria for Cancer Centers of Excellence
(COEs) Network Programs
Criteria vary from network to network. These criteria are likely to be common across networks.
Cancer COE Network Criteria
1. Multidisciplinary tumor boards that meet at least monthly and evaluate patients and make
treatment recommendations in complex cases (should include specialized pathologist).
2. Multidisciplinary treatment team that includes all appropriate disciplines, which vary by type
of cancer. Each tumor-specific team should include the following specialties, as appropriate
for the type of cancer:
a. Medical oncologist or hematologist
b. Radiation oncologist
c. Surgeon with expertise appropriate to the diagnosis
d.Pharmacist
e. Pathologist with subspecialty expertise
f. Palliative care specialist
g. Nurses, including advance practice nurses
h. Social worker
i. Therapists, as needed (PT, OT, speech)
j.Nutritionist
k. Rehab services
l. Spiritual support staff
m. Other specialists as needed (infectious disease, cardiologist, nephrologist, etc.)
n. For pediatric patients, child-family life specialist and teacher should be available, as well
as appropriate pediatric specialists
3. Dedicated patient care units
4. Multidisciplinary outpatient clinics
5. Radiation oncology program that includes Board-certified radiation oncologists, medical
physicist and dosimetrist on-site.
6. Joint Commission accreditation
7. Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American Pathology
lab certification
8. Completion of advance directive consistently encouraged.
9. Hospice program as part of the cancer center’s programs or by referral and consistently offered
when appropriate.
10. Patient and family resources (via library, computer lab and website) readily available.
11. Sufficient patient volume to ensure expertise is maintained, especially in surgical areas.
This Guide was developed by the National Business Group on HealthSM and National Comprehensive Cancer Network®,
which should be cited accordingly. Copyright 2013 National Business Group on HealthSM.
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An Employer’s Guide to Cancer Treatment & Prevention
12. Electronic Medical Record system and computerized physician order entry (CPEO) system in
place or in process.
13. Communication and coordination processes in place with referring physician or physician to
whom patient will be transitioned.
14. Comprehensive discharge planning processes in place.
15. Participation in cancer clinical trial cooperative groups appropriate to areas of clinical
expertise.
16. Use of NCCN Guidelines® (reporting of concordance with NCCN Guidelines® is not a
vailable for most providers at this time and is not a requirement).
17. System and process in place for tracking, reviewing and reporting clinical outcomes.
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This Guide was developed by the National Business Group on HealthSM and National Comprehensive Cancer Network®,
which should be cited accordingly. Copyright 2013 National Business Group on HealthSM.