title: Conforming to cancer staging, prognostic indicators and national treatment guidelines.
abstract: Clinical cancer staging and prognostic indicators guide treatment planning, and as such the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Commission on Cancer (ACoS CoC) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) have recognized this as quality patient care. Overton Brooks Veterans Administration (OBVAMC) developed an organizational policy and procedure, flow algorithms, treatment plan templates, and education strategies in order to conform to this quality care approach. The purpose of this article is to share this systematic approach that is able to support clinical and working cancer stage and prognostic indicators which have been recognized by national standard setting organizations as quality patient care.
authors.affiliation: Overton Brooks Veterans Administration Medical Center (OBVAMC). Gwendylen.dykstra-long@va.gov
authors.forename: Gwendylen R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Dykstra-Long
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging / Q000592:standards*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care