Does the Community Outreach Coordinator have to be the Cancer Liaison Physician?
A. Effective immediately, the CoC no longer requires that the CLP serve as the Community Outreach Coordinator, and is allowing facilities the flexibility to choose the most appropriate person to serve in this role. The CoC does, however, recommend that the CLP serve in a leadership role on the cancer committee, acting as either the cancer committee chair or one of the four designated coordinators in the areas of quality improvement, community outreach, cancer conference, and quality control of cancer registry data. Please keep in mind that a physician should be involved in facilitating community outreach activities and contribute expertise to identify special needs in the communities based on facility, state, and national data. These needs may include, but are not limited to screening, prevention and early detection, disparities, support services, pain/symptom control, palliative care, and clinical trials.
