Apply for NAPRC Accreditation

The NAPRC is a nationwide program that sets comprehensive standards across the continuum of rectal cancer care. For hospitals that wish to apply, your program will be evaluated against these standards to demonstrate compliance and commitment to providing high-quality rectal cancer care. Through the NAPRC, programs will be able to:

Educate and train their program staff with web-based education and in-person workshops focused on understanding the standards, best practices to support compliance, and tips and techniques for site visit prep.
Utilize tools and templates to assist you in recording and tracking your program’s activity for select standards either in between or in preparation for site visits.
Develop program support with the CAnswer Forum online community where you can ask questions, search topics, and connect with program colleagues across the country.
Gain marketing resources that help promote your accreditation across your community including certificates, posters, banner stands, and digital assets.

Key Application Information

Programs must be able to demonstrate 12 months of compliance with the standards.
Programs must have a minimum of 10 rectal cancer surgical resections during the most recent calendar year.
All initial onsite visits will be scheduled within 6–9 months after the application is approved and access to QPort is provided.

Important Accreditation Process Information

Before Accredited status is granted, corrective action must be completed for any non-compliant standards noted in the accreditation report.
Programs undergoing an initial site review that has seven or more non-compliant standards will be rated Not Accredited and will need to reapply for accreditation after one calendar year.

Pre-Review Questionnaire (PRQ)

The PRQ provides necessary information and documentation for site reviewers to assess compliance with the standards.

Program must meet compliance measures for all applicable standards.
Program must submit the complete PRQ through QPort at least 60 calendar days before the confirmed site visit date.

Site Visit

An in-person site visit is conducted by an NAPRC-trained reviewer.
The initial NAPRC site visits review activity over 12 consecutive months.

Outcome

An Accreditation Report documents the results of the visit.
- Before Accredited status is granted, corrective action must be completed for any non-compliant standards noted in the accreditation report.
- Programs undergoing an initial site review that has seven or more non-compliant standards will be rated Not Accredited and will need to reapply for accreditation after one full calendar year.
The Site Visit Experience Survey must be completed within 14 calendar days.
Promotional materials are available once accreditation is achieved.
Once accredited, the accreditation term is 3 years from the date of the initial site visit.

New Program Checklist

Applications should not be submitted until the program has 12 months of compliance in place and has a minimum of 10 rectal cancer surgical resection cases during the most recent calendar year.

Pre-Submission

Verify your rectal cancer program is part of a Commission on Cancer (CoC)-accredited program.

Note: Network accreditation is not available for the NAPRC. If the affiliated CoC program has an Integrated Network Cancer Program (INCP) category, then the NAPRC program attaches at the individual hospital level. If multiple hospitals within the INCP wish to achieve NAPRC accreditation, then each hospital must apply and be reviewed separately.

Download and review the current version of the National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer Standards Manual.
Form a defined rectal cancer multidisciplinary team that includes one appointed physician member from surgery, pathology, radiology, medical oncology, and radiation oncology.
Appoint a Rectal Cancer Program Director and a Rectal Cancer Program Coordinator.

Submission

Complete the online application once the program can demonstrate 12 consecutive months of compliance and has a minimum of 10 rectal cancer surgical resection cases during the most recent calendar year.
Complete the site profile once the application is processed.
Receive an initial annual accreditation fee invoice.
Receive full access to the Quality Portal (QPort) upon receipt of payment, which includes access to the PRQ and the ability to submit four preferred dates for the initial site visit.
Submit four preferred site visit dates

Post-Submission

Receive formal notification of the site visit date.
Undergo an in-person site visit by a NAPRC-trained site reviewer.
Receive the Accreditation Report, which documents the site visit results, within 45 days of the site visit, or as soon as practical thereafter, of the site visit.
Promote your NAPRC accreditation once Accredited status is achieved.

Apply Today

Renewals/Reaccreditation Process (Accredited Programs)

NAPRC-accredited programs are required to undergo a site visit every three years to maintain accreditation. More information regarding reaccreditation can be found in the Resources section of the Quality Portal.

Preparation Resources

The following resources can help programs in preparing for the accreditation process