Organization of the Division
The Division is comprised of three areas: Cancer, Trauma, and Continuous Quality Improvement (formerly the Office of Evidence-Based Surgery).
Continuous Quality Improvement
Continuous Quality Improvement provides the infrastructure for conducting health services research, clinical research, laboratory research, meta-analyses, clinical trials, outcome studies, research hypothesis generation, and the development of evidence-based practice guidelines. The office also collaborates with the Division of Education and the Division of Advocacy and Health Policy to provide educational programs and to promote public policy initiatives.
Continuous Quality Improvement
Trauma Programs
Organizes educational programs and publications in trauma and supports the Advanced Trauma Life Support Course, the National Trauma Registry (NATIONAL TRACS), the National Trauma Data Bank, the Verification/Consultation Program for Hospitals, the Trauma System Consultation Program, and a Regional Trauma Organization of State/Provincial activities. The Committee on Trauma is also active in prehospital trauma care, injury prevention and control, performance improvement and patient safety, rural trauma, disaster management, and outcomes studies.
Cancer Programs
The Cancer Programs of the American College of Surgeons exist within the Division of Research and Optimal Patient Care. A standing committee of the College since 1922, and administered by the Cancer Programs office, the Commission on Cancer (CoC) is a consortium of professional organizations dedicated to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer through education, standard setting, and the monitoring of quality care. The CoC Approvals Program sets standards for quality, multidisciplinary cancer care delivered in more than 1,400 hospital settings. The CoC's National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) is a nationwide oncology outcomes database for more than 1,400 hospital cancer programs in the 50 states. In addition, the CoC has formed twelve multidisciplinary Disease Site Teams (DSTs) to provide expertise in three areas: review and publish National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) data on treatment patterns, trends, and outcomes; propose hypothesis-based special studies; and identify opportunities for educational interventions to improve cancer care.
Revised September 20, 2004