Type of centre?
The OECI developed an instrument for the designation of (cancer) centre. The instrument has been validated through a pilot project. 38 European centres attend the pilot. The designation instrument is approved by the OECI General Assembly in Budapest (June 2010).
By the end of 2010, the designation instrument will be integrated in the accreditation programme. Your centres can be designated as one of the following types:
- Cancer Unit: A Cancer Unit is defined as a clinical facility and/or hospital department covering radiotherapy and medical oncology or surgical oncology. One of these in a sufficient degree. Additionally the centre has a formalized collaboration with other hospital specialties.
- Clinical cancer centre: A Clinical cancer centre (not to confuse with CCC) is characterized by the clinical capacity covering a sufficient degree of all medical, surgical and radiotherapeutical oncology services and occasionally a limited degree of clinical research.
- Cancer Research Centre: A Cancer Research Centre is characterized by the capacity in cancer research focusing on one or more areas in the field of fundamental/basic and translational oncology.
- Comprehensive Cancer Centre: A Comprehensive Cancer Centre (CCC) is probably the hardest category to define as many different interpretations on a CCC already exist. Based on available information and many definitions on the concept of a CCC, the following features are considered to be essential for this particular category:
- A highly innovative character and multidisciplinary approach using the potential of basic, translational and clinical research and clinical facilities and activities, organized in a sufficiently identifiable entity;
- A direct provision of an extensive variety of cancer care tailored to the individual patient’s needs and directed towards learning and improving the professional, organizational and relational quality of care;
- Broad activities in the area of prevention, education, and external dissemination of knowledge and innovation
For more information about the designation project please contact Ingeborg van Gessel, OECI Designation Coordinator: +31 20 512 6972 or i.v.gessel@nki.nl
