Rapid City Regional Hospital's Comprehensive Cancer Program has received continuous, full approval from the American College of Surgeon's (ACoS) since December 1981. The ACoS offers voluntary standards for hospital cancer programs. Approval by ACoS is widely recognized as the "gold standard" for cancer programs by the Joint Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and many others health care organizations, including the American Cancer Society and the Association of Community Cancer Centers.

Approval is based on compliance with 47 mandatory standards. It is based on a comprehensive evaluation of the scope, organization, and performance of a cancer program. A specially trained physician surveys the Comprehensive Cancer Program every three years. Full Approval is given to those programs that meet all mandatory standards. In addition, the medical staff must be board certified in their major medical specialty areas.

The Rapid City Regional Hospital's Comprehensive Cancer Program is approved in the category of Community Hospital Comprehensive Cancer Programs (COMP). To achieve COMP approval, a cancer program must offer a full range of diagnostic and treatment services that include all of the following:

• Prevention
• Early Diagnosis
• Pretreatment Evaluation
• Staging
• Optimal Treatment
• Rehabilitation
• Surveillance for recurrent disease and multiple primary tumors
• Psychosocial Support
• End of life care

In addition to ACoS approval, as part of the Rapid City Regional Hospital, the Comprehensive Cancer Program is JCAHO accredited and participates in the Hospital's ongoing performance improvement studies.