The OECI model: the CRO Aviano experience.

In 2012, the "Centro di Riferimento Oncologico" (CRO) National Cancer Institute joined the accreditation program of the Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI) and was one of the first institutes in Italy to receive recognition as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. At the end of the project, a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis aimed at identifying the pros and cons, both for the institute and of the accreditation model in general, was performed. The analysis shows significant strengths, such as the affinity with other improvement systems and current regulations, and the focus on a multidisciplinary approach.

Accreditation for excellence of cancer research institutes: recommendations from the Italian Network of Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

A panel of experts from Italian Comprehensive Cancer Centers defines the recommendations for external quality control programs aimed to accreditation to excellence of these institutes. After definition of the process as a systematic, periodic evaluation performed by an external agency to verify whether a health organization possesses certain prerequisites regarding structural, organizational and operational conditions that are thought to affect health care quality, the panel reviews models internationally available and makes final recommendations on aspects considered of main interest. This position paper has been produced within a special project of the Ministry of Health of the Italian Government aimed to accredit, according to OECI model, 11 Italian cancer centers in the period 2012-2014.

[Indicators of quality in pathology].

Quality assurance indicators are instruments to evaluate and improve the quality of health care. Indicators do not measure the quality but point at the problems. In Surgical Pathology each technique has common or specific Quality Indicators to test the accuracy, the timeliness and the clinical relevance of pathology reports (e.

[Accreditation and certification in pathology].

The accreditation and certification processes were compared as tools for the management of the Departments of Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology, with references to international and italian experiences.

[Microcystic adenoma of the pancreas. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural study of 7 cases].

Microcystic cystadenoma of pancreas is a rare benign neoplasm with peculiar pathologic characteristics. It is more frequent in women and in elderly age. Macroscopically it is composed of a spongy, microcystic mass with a starry central fibrous core.