| News from the American College of Surgeons For Immediate Release: October 5, 2011 |
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NATIONAL SURGICAL EXPERTS AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS ISSUES
Chicago: National surgical experts from the Commission on Cancer (CoC) of the American College of Surgeons and the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers (NAPBC) are available to help reporters convey the importance of early detection and comprehensive quality treatment of breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
To arrange interviews, contact Cory Suzan Petty at 312-202-5328, or pressinquiry@facs.org.
Topics:
- Breast cancer treatment
- Breast center accreditation
- Quality cancer care
- Patient navigation
An emphasis on cancer patient navigation and ensuring quality care is a cornerstone of two recent CoC initiatives:
- New 2012 Commission on Cancer Program Standards
- New Commission on Cancer Rapid Quality Reporting System (RQRS)
The CoC’s 2012 accredited cancer program standards promote a patient-centered approach to cancer care that includes a patient navigation requirement along with screening for psychosocial distress and creating a survivorship plan for patients. These standards are required for the more than 1,500 hospital cancer programs that the CoC accredits.
Further, the CoC’s innovative “Rapid Quality Reporting System,” being used in 66 sites at CoC-accredited centers around the U.S. just launched September 19. This new evidence-based cancer data system promotes adherence to National Quality Forum measures for treatment of breast cancer, and it ensures patients remain visible in the vast cancer care network.
The National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers is a consortium of national, professional organizations dedicated to the improvement of the quality of care and the monitoring of outcomes for patients with diseases of the breast. NAPBC currently has 330 accredited breast centers in 47 states, including Alaska, Hawaii, and the territory of Puerto Rico. For information on the NAPBC, visit http://www.accreditedbreastcenters.org/.
The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to improving survival and quality of life for cancer patients through standard-setting, prevention, research, education, and the monitoring of comprehensive quality care. For more information about the CoC, visit http://www.facs.org/cancer/index.html.
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About the American College of Surgeons
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. Its achievements have significantly influenced the course of scientific surgery in America and have established it as an important advocate for all surgical patients. The College has more than 77,000 members and it is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.
Online October 10, 2011