ACS standards and staging

Reach Higher

Attain higher standards in surgery and more accurate staging in cancer with the ACS

Quality Lives Here

The ACS is known for high quality and high standards across the continuum of surgery. We have manuals, resources, courses, events, and more—anything and everything you need to reach higher in surgical quality. The same applies to staging. We can help you clarify the finer points in staging whether it’s breast cancer, colorectal, lung, and more. See the resources we have for you to elevate your expertise and ultimately improve patient outcomes.

Search Standards and Staging Programs

In-person Event

Quality and Safety Conference

Submit your surgical quality improvement abstract for consideration for presentation at the 2025 ACS Quality and Safety Conference by March 3.

Resources & Standards Manuals

ACS Quality Verification Program

Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety

The ACS Quality Verification Program Optimal Resources for Surgical Quality and Safety detail the 12 salient elements of surgical quality.

National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers

Optimal Resources for Breast Care

Optimal Resources for Breast Care (2024 Standards) focuses on the patient care journey from screening and prevention, to diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship, with an emphasis on providing value-based care with multidisciplinary support.

Commission on Cancer

Optimal Resources for Cancer Care

The Commission on Cancer has released the latest version of its accreditation standards, Optimal Resources for Cancer Care (2020 Standards). This republication was released in February 2024.

Children's Surgery Verification

Optimal Resources for Children's Surgical Care

The Optimal Resources for Children's Surgical Care standards document details the principles regarding resource standards, quality improvement and safety processes, data collection, and a verification process.

Emergency General Surgery Verification Program Verifies First Five Hospitals

Optimal Resources for Emergency General Surgery

Optimal Resources for Emergency General Surgery in-patient and outpatient standards detail elements of emergency general surgical care and quality across multiple domains.

Geriatric Surgery Verification

Optimal Resources for Geriatric Surgery

The Optimal Resources for Geriatric Surgery detail the principles regarding resource standards, quality improvement and safety processes, data collection, and the verification process for geriatric surgery centers.

Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery Accreditation & Quality Improvement Program

Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery

The revised Optimal Resources for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery will go into effect October 2022, at which time the MBSAQIP will begin verifying compliance with the updated Standards.

National Accreditation Program for Rectal Cancer

Optimal Resources for Rectal Cancer Care

The Optimal Resources for Rectal Cancer Care (2020 Standards) evaluate the program management, clinical services, and quality improvement of a rectal cancer program.

Vascular Verification Program

Optimal Resources for Vascular Surgery & Interventional Care

The ACS and SVS present program standards manuals for both inpatient and outpatient vascular surgical and interventional care. These standards detail elements of vascular surgical care and quality across nine domains.

Verification, Review, and Consultation Program

Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient

The Verification, Review, and Consultation (VRC) program is pleased to announce the release of the Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient (2022 Standards).