The UPMC Network Cancer Registry and its Registry Information Services division ensures UPMC and UPMC Hillman Cancer Center is compliant with federal and state regulations and accreditation processes.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention / National Program of Cancer Registries
Established by Congress through the Cancer Registries Amendment Act in 1992, and administered by CDC, the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) collects data on cancer occurrence (including the type, extent, and location of the cancer), the type of initial treatment, and outcomes.
Before NPCR was established, 10 states had no registry, and most states with registries lacked the resources and legislative support they needed to gather complete data. Today, through NPCR, CDC supports central cancer registries in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Pacific Island Jurisdictions. These data represent 96% of the U.S. population.
Together, CDC’s NPCR and the National Cancer Institute’s (NCI’s) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program collect data for the entire U.S. population. This national coverage enables researchers, clinicians, policy makers, public health professionals, and members of the public to monitor the burden of cancer, evaluate the successes of programs, and identify additional needs for cancer prevention and control efforts at national, state, and local levels.
The UPMC Network Cancer Registry contributes data to the NPCR through required reporting to the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Read more about the CDC NPCR at http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/about.htm
To access United States Cancer Statistics visit https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/uscs/about
Pennsylvania Department of Health
PENNSYLVANIA CANCER REGISTRY (PCR)
As required by Pennsylvania law, the UPMC Network Cancer Registry reports to the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry (PCR), a statewide data system responsible for collecting information on all new cases of cancer diagnosed or treated in Pennsylvania. The PCR has had statewide data collection since 1985. The PCR is part of the National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Through this program, the CDC provides funding for states, such as Pennsylvania, to enhance their existing registry to meet national standards for completeness, timeliness and data quality.
WHY A STATEWIDE CANCER REGISTRY?
The basis for any successful cancer control program is a comprehensive registry system. Ongoing cancer data collection by the PCR ensures that reliable data are available to provide answers to questions, reduce the burden of cancer in Pennsylvania, and improve the lives of cancer survivors and their families.
Read more about the Pennsylvania Cancer Registry at https://www.health.pa.gov/topics/Reporting-Registries/Cancer-Registry/Pages/Cancer%20Registry.aspx
North American Association of Central Cancer Registries
For more information on the role of NAACCR, visit http://www.naaccr.org/
American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer
Many UPMC hospital cancer programs are accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer including:
- UPMC Altoona
- UPMC East
- UPMC Hamot
- Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC
- UPMC Passavant
- UPMC Pinnacle
- UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside
- UPMC Susquehanna
Applying for and maintaining this level of accreditation is a voluntary commitment our cancer programs do to confirm our patients have access to the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat, rehabilitate, and support patients with cancer and their families. Our cancer programs continually evaluate performance and take proactive, corrective actions when necessary. This continuous evaluation reaffirms the commitment to providing high-quality cancer care.
Notable Benefits
Accredited programs receive notable benefits from the CoC that enhance their cancer program, including:
- National recognition: CoC accreditation is nationally recognized by organizations such as The Joint Commission, American Cancer Society, Aetna, CMS, NQF, and National Cancer Institute as having established performance measures for the provision of high-quality cancer car
- Organized care: The CoC offers cancer programs an organizational model for the delivery of comprehensive, multidisciplinary cancer care.
- Quality improvement measures: Participation in the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) and access to Comparison Benchmark Reports and other resource tools enable CoC-accredited programs to compare their quality of care and improve performance based on nationally recognized quality measures and standards of care.
- Data analysis: Participation in CoC special studies that are developed to address important issues in cancer care.
- Public awareness: Promotion and national exposure are available to accredited programs through CoC marketing efforts, the CoC Hospital Locator, select payers, and organizations promulgating patient information about where to receive quality cancer care.
For the patient and community, the quality standards established by the CoC for cancer programs ensure:
- Comprehensive care, including a complete range of state-of-the-art services and equipment
- A multidisciplinary team approach to coordinate the best available treatment options Information about ongoing cancer clinical trials and new treatment options
- Access to prevention and early detection programs, cancer education, and support services
- A cancer registry that offers lifelong patient follow-up to assess outcomes and best practices
- Ongoing monitoring and improvements in cancer care