West Jeff Physician Appointed to Commission on Cancer

Mark Workman, MD recently received a three-year appointment as Cancer Liaison Physician for the cancer program at West Jefferson Medical Center (WJMC). Cancer Liaison Physicians are an integral part of cancer programs accredited by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC).

Dr. Workman is among a national network of more than 1,600 volunteer physicians who are responsible for providing leadership and direction to establish, maintain, and support their facilities' cancer program. Dr. Workman, who has a significant interest in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with malignant diseases, is a member of the multidisciplinary cancer committee at WJMC, which is dedicated to facilitating the delivery of comprehensive quality cancer care.

Cancer Liaison Physicians are responsible for spearheading CoC initiatives within their cancer program; collaborating with agencies, such as the American Cancer Society (ACS); and facilitating quality improvement initiatives utilizing data submitted to the CoC's National Cancer Database (NCDB). The CoC collects data from its accredited cancer programs and provides tools back to these facilities to facilitate the analysis of patterns of diagnosis, treatment, and quality of care.

The Cancer Liaison Physician works with the cancer program staff to facilitate the submission, presentation, use, and interpretation of NCDB data. Analyzing and sharing these data with the cancer committee can have a positive impact on cancer patient care at WJMC.

In an effort to assist the more than 1.4 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year, Cancer Liaison Physicians at CoC-accredited programs also facilitate participation in the Commission’s Facility Information Profile System (FIPS). FIPS provides the public with information about resources, services, and annual cancer cases diagnosed at CoC-accredited facilities. These data are shared with the public through the CoC Web site at www.facs.org/cancer.

The Commission on Cancer is a consortium of 47 professional organizations dedicated to improving the survival and quality of life for cancer patients.

For more information on the Cancer Liaison Program and the Commission on Cancer, contact the Commission on Cancer at the American College of Surgeons, 633 N. Saint Clair St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-202-5085; or visit http://www.facs.org/cancer