Each Commission on Cancer (CoC) cancer program is designated a specific category based on the type of facility, program structure, services provided, and the number of cases accessioned each year.
Category assignments are made by CoC staff at the time of initial application and are retained unless there are changes to the services provided and/or the facility caseload for three consecutive years. Category designations are reviewed annually by the CoC following the completion of the National Cancer Database (NCDB) call for data. Category adjustments apply at the beginning of the next calendar year. Programs are notified by e-mail of category changes.
Please direct category change inquiries to coc@facs.org.
Academic Comprehensive Cancer Program (ACAD) | |
Community Cancer Program (CCP) | |
Comprehensive Community Cancer Program (CCCP) | |
Free Standing Cancer Center Program (FCCP) | |
Hospital Associate Cancer Program (HACP) |
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Integrated Network Cancer Program (INCP) |
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NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Center Program (NCIP) |
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NCI-Designated Network Cancer Program (NCIN) | |
Pediatric Cancer Program (PCP) | |
Veterans Affairs Cancer Program (VACP) |
The facility participates in postgraduate medical education in at least four program areas, including internal medicine and general surgery. The facility accessions more than 500 newly diagnosed cancer cases each year.
The facility accessions more than 100 but fewer than 500 newly diagnosed cancer cases each year.
The facility accessions 500 or more newly diagnosed cancer cases each year.
The facility is a nonhospital-based program and offers at least one cancer-related treatment modality. The full range of diagnostic and treatment services is available by referral. Referral to CoC-accredited cancer program(s) is preferred. There is no minimum caseload requirement for this category.
The facility accessions 100 or fewer newly diagnosed cancer cases each year and has a limited range of diagnostic and treatment services available on-site. Other services are available by referral. Clinical research is not required.
Facilities belonging to an organization that owns a group of facilities that offer integrated and comprehensive cancer care services and is overseen by a centralized governance structure/board and CEO.
The facility secures a National Cancer Institute (NCI) peer-reviewed Cancer Center Support Grant and is designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the NCI. A full range of diagnostic and treatment services and staff physicians are available. Participation in the training of resident physicians is optional, and there is no minimum caseload requirement for this category.
Facilities belonging to an organization that owns a group of facilities that offer integrated and comprehensive cancer care services and is overseen by a centralized governance structure/board and CEO. Additionally, the facilities secure a National Cancer Institute (NCI) peer-reviewed Cancer Center Support Grant and are designated a Comprehensive Cancer Center Consortium by the NCI. To be included in the NCIN, all facilities must be included within the NCI grant.
The stand-alone facility provides care to children and adolescents below the age of 18 (a center that cares only for teens and older is excluded). The pediatric facility or pediatric oncology program offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for pediatric patients. The pediatric facility is required to participate in cancer-related clinical research, including the enrollment of patients in cancer-related clinical trials. There is no minimum caseload requirement for this category.
The pediatric oncology program within an existing CoC-accredited facility provides care to children and adolescents below the age of 18 (a program that cares only for teens and older is excluded). The pediatric oncology program offers the full range of diagnostic and therapeutic services for pediatric patients separate from the adult services. The pediatric oncology program is required to participate in cancer-related clinical research, including the enrollment of patients in cancer-related clinical trials. There is no minimum caseload requirement for this category.
The facility provides care to military veterans and offers the full range of diagnostic and treatment services either on-site or by referral, preferably to CoC-accredited cancer program(s). There is no minimum caseload requirement for this category.