The CEO Cancer Gold Standard ™ was developed by the CEO Roundtable on Cancer to assist organizations in reducing the burden of cancer. Organizations that adopt the Gold Standard demonstrate a commitment to improving the health and lives of their employees and their family members by maintaining a culture that fosters healthy lifestyles and provides support when a diagnosis of cancer becomes a reality. In addition, they offer benefits and programs that lower the risk of cancer, detect it earlier, and provide access to high-quality treatment, including clinical trials.

The CEO Roundtable on Cancer, Inc. is a 501(c)(3), non-profit corporation, comprised of corporate executives from major American companies from diverse industries. The mission of the CEO Roundtable is to work toward the elimination of cancer as a personal disease and as a public health problem. Members of the CEO Roundtable work collaboratively to develop and implement initiatives that reduce the risk of cancer, enable early diagnosis, facilitate better access to best-available treatments, and hasten the discovery of novel and more effective diagnostic tools and anti-cancer therapies.

The Gold Standard has three objectives that support the fight against cancer. The first is Risk Reduction, reducing the risk for cancer. The second is Early Detection, detecting cancer at the earliest possible stage, when treatment can improve outcomes. The third goal is Quality Care, ensuring access to high-quality treatment when a cancer diagnosis becomes a reality.

The Gold Standard focuses on five critical areas, known as the Five Pillars. The first three pillars, related to Risk Reduction, are Tobacco Use, Nutrition and Physical Activity. The fourth pillar, which supports the objective of Early Detection, is Prevention, Screening and Early Detection. The fifth pillar, Access to Quality Treatment and Clinical Trials, supports the third goal of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard ™, Quality Care.

No, any organization may apply to be accredited as a CEO Cancer Gold Standard organization.

Yes, all requirements of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard must be satisfied before an organization may become accredited as a CEO Cancer Gold Standard organization.

Yes, before deciding to apply for accreditation, it is recommended that an organization complete Are You Ready, a brief checklist designed to provide a high-level view of an organization's current state of readiness for meeting the requirements of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard. It can be helpful in identifying those areas where an organization has satisfied the requirements and also in identifying any gaps where changes must be made before applying for accreditation.

Completed applications may be submitted anytime and will be reviewed at least quarterly. Members of the Accreditation Review Board will review each completed application to determine if the organization has satisfied all requirements of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard and, therefore, should be accredited as a CEO Cancer Gold Standard organization.

Yes, although the form for annual re-accreditation is a simplified application.

No, fees are currently waived.

Tobacco use is the leading cause of death, disease, and disability. Tobacco-free workplaces reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (a known carcinogen) and encourage tobacco users to quit or cut back. Having a tobacco-free workplace makes a statement that the organization is committed to the health of all those who work at or visit the worksite.

CEO Cancer Gold Standard ™ organizations must have a policy that designates all facilities and grounds owned, leased, or shared by the company as tobacco-free areas. The use of tobacco must be prohibited in all vehicles on company grounds, in all company-owned vehicles, regardless of their location, and it is recommended that tobacco use be prohibited at all company-sponsored events. The policy should be communicated and must include procedures for enforcement. The policy must be “tobacco-free” rather than “smoke-free” because all forms of tobacco use are harmful and can cause cancer. Gold Standard organizations discourage the use of all tobacco products because they care about their employees’ health.

Yes, the policy must apply to the entire workplace – both indoors and outdoors, including near the entrances to all buildings. The exact distance (i.e. # of feet) will vary based upon individual circumstances. Providing designated areas for smoking or separately ventilated facilities does not meet the requirements of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard™.

Yes, it must apply to all US-based employees, at all sites and facilities, whether they are owned, leased or shared. All current employees should be notified of the tobacco-free policy, and prospective employees should be made aware of the tobacco-free policy during the job interview process. Temporary/ contract personnel as well as visitors to company sites should also be informed of the tobacco-free policy. Gold Standard organizations promote an integrated, positive message, incorporating the notion that “we care about your health” and “here are the programs and support we’re offering to help you stop using tobacco”.

Counseling and medications are considered to be evidence-based treatment for quitting the use of tobacco. Medications include both prescription (Rx) medicines that are FDA-approved for the treatment of tobacco cessation, and also non-prescription Over-the-Counter (OTC) products that have been approved by the FDA and are considered effective for discontinuing tobacco use.

All FDA-approved tobacco-cessation Rx and non-prescription OTC products included in Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence: 2008 Update must be covered at either no cost or at a reasonable cost-sharing level. Note that this list will change as new medications are approved.

Coverage for all evidence-based tobacco-cessation treatments is considered to be provided at a reasonable cost-sharing level if the co-pay or cost sharing is in line with coverage provided for other pharmaceutical products.

Examples include a Quit Line service, onsite smoking cessation classes, and onsite support groups. Gold Standard employers organization must sponsor or promote programs that help employees discontinue the use of tobacco. An organization must demonstrate that it has made a concerted effort to help employees quit the use of tobacco. Over time, it is expected that a Gold Standard employer would be able to demonstrate that its programs are successful, i.e. that the number of tobacco users is reduced as a result of the program.

An organization must demonstrate that its company culture promotes and encourages healthy food choices. For example, an organization might offer healthy options in company cafeterias, break rooms and in vending machines. To promote healthier eating habits, healthy food selections might be subsidized, and higher rates for high-fat and less nutritious meals may apply. Onsite workshops conducted by nutrition experts from local hospitals or clinics, nutrition counseling in onsite clinics, contracting with food service venders who will collaborate on a healthy menu and provide nutritional information about food served all are examples of a company culture that promotes healthy food choices. A company must demonstrate that it has taken specific steps to make it easier for employees to maintain a healthy diet.

An organization must provide easy access to nutrition and weight control programs, either onsite or offsite. What is required is a broad-based approach rather than a single program. Efforts should focus on long-term success, with a specific goal of employees attaining--and maintaining--a healthy weight. For example, an organization might sponsor or subsidize programs such as Weight Watchers, or develop incentive programs to encourage employees to participate in weight control and/or healthy eating programs.

An organization must demonstrate that its culture promotes and encourages physical activity. For example, the membership cost of fitness clubs either on or offsite could be subsidized. A company might encourage participation in cancer-related events such as Race for the Cure or Relay for Life, or make stairwells aesthetically pleasing in some way, to encourage use. An individual company culture can promote physical activity in numerous ways. An organization must demonstrate that it has taken specific steps to encourage employees to be more physically active, and that employees are responding.

A company must show that it has taken specific steps to make it easier for employees to maintain an active lifestyle. Suggestions include establishing and maintaining walking trails, providing safe and accessible stairwells, providing parking spaces for bicycles, and allowing flexibility in employees' schedules to permit time for physical activity. Onsite fitness centers are a good example.

An organization must demonstrate that its culture promotes and encourages appropriate cancer-screening tests and exams using approaches that work best within the specific organization (e.g. web, newsletters, brochures, seminars, videos etc.). It is important to educate employees about why they should be screened for particular cancers and about when to be screened for particular cancers. There are numerous tactics that would allow an organization to fulfill this CEO Cancer Gold Standard requirement.

Yes, as with other CEO Cancer Gold Standard requirements that involve health benefit plans, all enrolled employees and covered dependents must be included, and all plans (fully insured as well as self-insured) must be included and provide cancer screening at either no cost or at a reasonable cost-sharing level.

An organization must cover tests and cancer-screening procedures approved by the FDA, and recommended by the CDC, for the prevention of cancer for breast, colorectal and cervical cancer.

Breast Cancer: Screening mammography, with or without clinical breast exam (CBE), every 1-2 years for women aged 40 and older Cervical Cancer: Pap test, beginning within 3 years of onset of sexual activity or age 21 (whichever comes first), at least every 3 years for women Colorectal Cancer: Fecal occult blood test (FOBT), every year for men and women aged 50 and older

Gold Standard-accredited organizations must include in their health benefit plans coverage for any FDA-approved (and CDC-recommended) cancer vaccines. Currently, the FDA has approved the use of two vaccines to prevent cervical cancer (Gardasil and Cervarix), and both the Centers for Disease Control’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and the Society for Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO) have issued recommendations concerning the vaccines against HPV (Human Papillomavirus) to prevent cervical cancer.

This requirement is intended to raise awareness about cancer clinical trials. It is required that employees be educated about what a cancer clinical trial is, and what it is not, the value of considering participating in a cancer clinical trial, and how to navigate the trials that are available. The decision to participate in a clinical trial - or decline participation - clearly resides with the individual and his or her oncologist. Education should be a sustained effort, so that employees are aware of the value of participation in a clinical trial and will be equipped to make an informed decision should a cancer diagnosis become a reality.

An organization may educate its employees about cancer clinical trials using media that work best within the organization (e.g. web, newsletters, brochures, seminars, video etc.). It is recommended that education be directed to cancer caregivers as well. Gold Standard employers have the permission of the National Cancer Institute to post the NCI bulletin “Taking Part in Cancer Treatment Research Studies” on internal company Web sites to raise awareness and educate employees about clinical trials.

One goal of the CEO Cancer Gold Standard is to ensure access to quality cancer treatment for employees who are diagnosed with cancer. An organization must provide access to cancer treatment at Commission on Cancer-accredited facilities and/or National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers because these two bodies are concerned with the quality of patient care and are committed to reducing the incidence of cancer as well as reducing cancer morbidity and mortality.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). An important part of NCI's mission is to support a national network of cancer centers.

The Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons is dedicated to improving health care for individuals with cancer. They recognize hospitals and health care facilities that have cancer programs that offer high-quality cancer care.

A cancer clinical trial is a research study, conducted with people who volunteer to participate, with the goal of finding better ways to treat cancer.

No. Unlike clinical trials for other diseases and conditions, cancer clinical trials rarely involve a placebo. When an effective treatment is already available ("standard of care") participants always receive either that, the new agent or the new agent combined with standard of care therapy.

The ever-increasing number of scientific discoveries provide more insights into the causes of cancer, but many successes are limited to the lab. Clinical trials are a critical part of the research process since trial results can lead to better treatments. In other words, trials help move basic scientific research from the lab into treatments for people with cancer.