In this topic:
Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. Interventional, time based methodology has been shown to dramatically reduce the associated patient morbidity and mortality. It is the intent of this clinical standard to assist health care organizations in their care of Oncology victims by utilizing current and emerging standard of care processes. Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, treatment, diagnosis, and prevention of cancer. The name’s etymological origin is the Greek word ὄγκος (ónkos), meaning “tumor”, “volume” or “mass”. Oncology is concerned with:
- the diagnosis of any cancer in a person (pathology),
- therapy (e.g. surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other modalities),
- follow-up of cancer patients after successful treatment,
- palliative care of patients with terminal malignancies.
The AACI Clinical Excellence Standards for Oncology Services are crafted to be adaptable for implementation across any healthcare setting providing cancer care, whether offering basic or comprehensive services.
To be eligible for AACI Clinical Excellence certification, a healthcare organization must first be accredited either by the AACI accreditation standard, an equivalent program recognized by an IEEA-accredited body, or another nationally recognized accreditation entity.
An OCC seeking to initiate the clinical certification process must apply for certification using the Application Form, clearly identifying all the services it provides. Upon receiving the application, AACI will evaluate it and determine the certification level, which will be either Advanced OCC or Comprehensive OCC.
The complexity and scope of service of the OCC shall fall into 1 of 2 categories reflecting the clinical and
other required resources available as described below:
BASIC SERVICES (are assumed to be present in accredited organizations. Therefore this CEC standard
does not apply to this level of oncological care):
a) day care chemotherapy
b) basic oncosurgery
c) cytology and histopathology
ADVANCED OCC facilities shall have CORE patient care services to at least include (but not limited to) :
a) radiotherapy (cobalt/linac, radio iodine treatment)
b) nuclear medicine modalities to include but not limited to PET CT, gamma camera)
c) pathology – immunohistochemistry
d) Reconstructive surgeries
COMPREHENSIVE OCC facilities shall have the above patient care services. In addition, these facilities
shall provide the following CORE services:
a) immunotherapy
b) pediatric oncology
c) robotic surgery
d) molecular diagnostics
e) genetic testing
f) research and/or clinical trials
Additionally, any other services included in the scope of service shall be surveyed.
These shall include but are not limited to:
g) hemato-oncology
h) brachytherapy
i) bone marrow transplant
j) CART (chimeric antigen receptors therapy)
k) SRS/SBRT (stereotactic radio-surgery/stereotactic body radiation therapy)
l) gamma knife/cyber knife
m) proton therapy
n) theranostics
o) HIPEC (hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy)
p) postgraduate and fellowship programs.
We know Oncology!
Mark of Excellence Oncology
Meeting AACI Clinical Excellence standards is an accomplishment recognised with the awarding of AACI’s Platinum Medal of Certification.
