Despite cancer mortality steadily declining over the past few decades, the American Cancer Society (ACS) projects that more than 2 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States this year. When it comes to fighting cancer, finding the right care and treatment can make all the difference for your employees. That’s where National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers come in. These centers are at the forefront of cancer research, treatment, and care, offering hope to patients and their families navigating a cancer diagnosis. But what exactly are NCI-Designated Cancer Centers and what makes them so important to an employee cancer benefit program?
What are NCI Designated Cancer Centers?
NCI-Designated Cancer Centers are the nation’s top hospitals or research institutions that have earned the highest federal rating from the NCI, which is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). An NCI-Designated Cancer Center must meet rigorous standards for research focused on improving cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. There are 72 NCI-Designated Cancer Centers, located in 36 states and the District of Columbia, that are funded by the NCI to deliver cutting-edge cancer treatments to patients.
Of those institutions, 57 are further recognized to be NCI-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers (NCI-Designated CCCs), meaning they meet the NCI standards in all three categories: laboratory, clinical, and population-based research, while also demonstrating substantial transdisciplinary research that bridges these scientific areas—making them the gold standard for cancer centers.
The Role of Research and Innovation
One of the biggest reasons NCI-Designated CCCs are so important is their dedication to cutting-edge research. These centers are involved in groundbreaking studies that lead to new treatments, therapies, and even potential cures for cancer. NCI-Designated CCCs often serve as the birthplace for life-saving discoveries and innovations in cancer treatment. These centers are staffed by sub-specialists in oncology, and many offer multidisciplinary teams who can help:
- Deliver cancer care and expertise that more quickly incorporates research advances into standards of care. This means getting the right care to the right patient, at the right time.
- Improve patients’ long-term survival when treatment is delivered at these centers compared with other teaching hospitals or community cancer treatment locations.
- Expand access to clinical trials, potentially enrolling patients in hundreds of research studies at any given moment and giving them access to the latest cancer treatment breakthrough therapies.
- Take a multidisciplinary approach, providing an entire team of cancer specialists who can personalize treatment plans and share insights into the latest cancer care guidelines.
Beyond just medical treatments, NCI-Designated CCCs offer a range of support services to help patients and their families through the difficult journey of cancer care. These services may include counseling, nutrition advice, pain management, and survivorship programs. The goal is to ensure that patients receive holistic care that addresses both their physical and emotional needs.
NCI-Designated CCCs and Employee Cancer Benefits
For employees with cancer, access to expertise from NCI-Designated CCCs can be life-changing by ensuring they’re on the right course of treatment early on, for the best outcomes possible. It means they have access to some of the best treatments, researchers, and clinical trials in the country. Yet, only 20% of cancer cases are treated at these centers and many employers may not know to question whether their cancer benefit programs include access to these NCI-Designated CCCs. And even when they do, the NCI-Designated CCCs may not be within driving distance of an employee’s home, which may deter an employee from seeking care at these facilities.
AccessHope is breaking down the access barrier by offering a cancer support service that remotely connects employees’ local oncologists with multidisciplinary specialists from NCI-Designated CCCs. Through expert case reviews of treatment plans, these specialists share insights on cutting-edge research, treatment guidelines, and available clinical trials to help optimize treatment plans. This ensures that your employees can remain under the care of their own oncologist and be treated in their local community while having the added benefit of NCI-designated cancer expertise.
Local oncologists value the expertise AccessHope offers and the collaborative nature of the service to help them stay abreast of the frequently updated cancer guidelines and rapidly emerging medical research.
Ensuring your employees’ cancer benefits include access to subspecialist oncology expertise means they can benefit from the latest treatments, leading research and support from the leading cancer specialists, and valuable clinical trials across the country.
