The developments in accreditation have urged the OECI to develop and implement an additional system in which European cancer institutes can also be designated. Such a system creates a platform in which synchronization and benchmarking of cancer activities will be possible on an international scale. Additionally, it is a tool for cancer institutes to ensure and improve their quality level.
The OECI developed an instrument for the designation of (cancer) institutes. The instrument has been validated through a pilot project. Thirty-eight European institutes attended the pilot. The designation instrument is approved by the OECI General Assembly in Budapest (June 2010).
From September 2010 onwards, the designation and accreditation will be integrated in one programme.
By making an effort to gain a designation status, the organization will be stimulated to disseminate knowledge and to form coalitions with other institutes in Europe that are also designated. This allows cancer institutes to benefit from one another and to reach to a critical mass in cancer services.
Definitions of the designation categories are:
- Cancer Units are defined as a clinical facilities or hospital departments covering at least radiotherapy and medical or surgical oncology. Additionally they have a formalized collaboration with other hospital specialties.
- Clinical Cancer Centre is characterized by the clinical capacity covering a sufficient degree of all medical, surgical and radiotherapy services and occasionally a limited degree of clinical research.
- Cancer Research Centre is characterized by the capacity in cancer research focusing on one or more areas in the field of fundamental and translational oncology.
- 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. In order to accentuate the differences with other cancer centres, a CCC separates itself in the following points:
- High level of infrastructure, expertise and innovation in the field of oncology research,
- Maintenance of an extensive network including all aspects of oncology treatment and research,
- Related to an academic/university centre or is an academic centre.
