The Commission on Cancer (CoC) recognizes cancer care programs for their commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality, and multidisciplinary patient-centered care through its accreditation program. CoC accreditation standards provide clear guidance that are proven to produce high-quality cancer care and requires coordination of care among multiple medical disciplines, including physicians ranging from primary care providers to specialists in all oncology disciplines. High-quality care also incorporates input from other clinical and allied health professionals, including nursing, social work, genetics, nutrition, rehabilitation, and others.
CoC accreditation requires meeting multiple eligibility requirements. Eligibility Requirement 11 states that oncology rehabilitation services need to be provided on-site or by referral. Oncology rehabilitation services should be thoroughly integrated into the cancer patients’ survivorship plans. Facilities may already have some of the components of a rehabilitation program in place. However, many times only a small percent of the patients are being served. Common factors that limit patient access to comprehensive cancer rehabilitation include:
- Lack of awareness and coordination amongst providers
- Lack of access to evidence-based protocols and tools
- Competing institutional strategic priorities
- Perceived investment of time and labor
- Organizational silos
How does your cancer program provide oncology rehabilitation services today? Is this an area you’re either lacking or could improve for both the benefit of your patients and to meet the eligibility requirement? Did you know that this also a reimbursable service that you can add to your facility’s service offering? Download our free ebook co-authored by the CoC ‘s Manager of Accreditation & Standards to see how the STAR Program can help you meet the the CoC’s eligibility requirements.
