The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) website is a valuable resource for clinicians and patients. Access to much of the content is available at no charge following registration.
See NCCN Framework for Resource Stratification of NCCN Guidelines (NCCN Framework™):
The NCCN Framework™ outlines a rational approach for building cancer management systems to provide the highest achievable cancer care by applying available and affordable services in a logical sequence. Each NCCN Framework™ builds on the one before it, with incremental changes to the allocation of resources, providing a structure for improving cancer care. Treatment recommendations applicable to each NCCN Framework can be viewed within the context of the NCCN Guidelines®.
The NCCN Framework™ resources are defined as:
Basic Resources: Basic Resources include essential services needed to provide basic minimal standard of care.
Core Resources: Core Resources include those provided in the Basic Resources Framework plus additional services that provide major improvements in disease outcomes (e.g. survival) and that are not cost prohibitive.
Enhanced Resources: Enhanced Resources include those provided in the Core Resources Framework and additional services that provide lesser improvements in disease outcomes and/or services that provide major improvements in disease outcomes but are cost prohibitive in lower resource settings.
NCCN Guidelines: The NCCN Guidelines are evidence-based, consensus-driven recommendations made by the NCCN Guidelines panels. They include services from the Enhanced Resources Framework and additional services that provide minor improvements in disease outcomes, interventions that are cost prohibitive in lower resource settings, and/or services that do not provide improvement in disease outcomes but are desirable services.
For example here are the resources for pancreatic cancer:
Pancreatic Cancer
- Basic Resources (Preliminary)
- Core Resources (Preliminary)
- Enhanced Resources (Preliminary)
- NCCN Guidelines
Here are links to just some of the NCCN resources:
Here is what the organization says about itself:
About NCCN
The National Comprehensive Cancer Network® (NCCN®), a not-for-profit alliance of 27 of the world’s leading cancer centers devoted to patient care, research, and education, is dedicated to improving the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of cancer care so that patients can live better lives. Through the leadership and expertise of clinical professionals at NCCN Member Institutions, NCCN develops resources that present valuable information to the numerous stakeholders in the health care delivery system. As the arbiter of high-quality cancer care, NCCN promotes the importance of continuous quality improvement and recognizes the significance of creating clinical practice guidelines appropriate for use by patients, clinicians, and other health care decision-makers.World-renowned experts from NCCN Member Institutions diagnose and treat patients with a broad spectrum of cancers and are recognized for dealing with complex, aggressive, or rare cancers. NCCN Member Institutions pioneered the concept of the multidisciplinary team approach to patient care and conduct innovative research that contributes significantly to understanding, diagnosing, and treating cancer. NCCN programs offer access to expert physicians, superior treatment, and quality and safety initiatives that continuously improve the effectiveness and efficiency of cancer care.
