Cancer Care Ontario (CCO) is an Ontario government agency. It was created to drive quality and continuous improvement in disease prevention, screening, access to care, the delivery of care and the patient experience for cancer and chronic kidney disease.
Cancer Care Ontario is known for its innovative, evidence-based and results-oriented approaches. CCO leads multi-year system planning, contracts for services with hospitals and providers, develops and deploys information systems, establishes guidelines and standards, and tracks performance targets to ensure system-wide improvements.
As the government’s cancer advisor, CCO:
- Directs and oversees more than $800 million in funding for hospitals and other cancer care providers, enabling them to deliver high quality, timely cancer services and improved access to care
- Implements provincial cancer prevention and screening programs
- Works with cancer care professionals and organizations to develop, track and implement quality improvements and standards
- Uses electronic information and technology to support health professionals and patient self care, and to continually improve the safety, quality, efficiency, accessibility and accountability of Ontario’s cancer services
- Plans cancer services to meet current and future patient needs
- Conducts and rapidly transfers its own and external new research into improvements and innovations in clinical practice and cancer service delivery
- Leads multi-year system planning, including the development and deployment of information systems and the development and dissemination of guidelines and standards
Because of its record of accomplishment in cancer care, CCO has taken over additional duties over the years. It is now responsible for the organization of care for chronic kidney disease through the Ontario Renal Network. CCO has also assumed responsibility for supporting the Ontario government’s Access to Care program, including its Wait Times Strategy. These programs will help to ensure that Ontarians receive the health care they need when and where they need it.
For more information, please visit the Cancer Care Ontario website www.cancercare.on.ca.