What must the cancer registry policy and procedure manual include according to the Commission on Cancer?

The cancer registry policy and procedure manual must include confidentiality and release of information because safeguarding patient information is a critical aspect of compliance with ethical standards and legal requirements in healthcare. Patient data collected by cancer registries often contains sensitive health information that must be protected to maintain patient trust and comply with regulations such as HIPAA. The manual should clearly outline the protocols for ensuring patient confidentiality, how data may be shared, and under what circumstances it can be disclosed, all of which are fundamental to the integrity of the cancer registry and the protection of patient rights.

While policies around patient eligibility and enrollment processes, budget allocations, and staffing are important in the context of cancer programs, the specific requirements for maintaining confidentiality and proper handling of patient information take precedence in the context of what the Commission on Cancer deems essential for the registry's policy and procedure manual.