Background
Herlev and Gentofte Hospital - and Rigshospitalet are responsible for clinical cancer treatment of citizens in the Capital Region of Denmark, in addition to specific centralized functions within cancer treatment at regional - and country level. The hospitals are highly specialized in the assessment, treatment, and follow-up after treatment for cancer, and both are responsible for clinical functions, research, education, and quality development. Cancer treatment at Rigshospitalet and Herlev Gentofte Hospital is organized in the Copenhagen Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCCC). The organization as a center, and with a CCCC Board (board), contributes to further development of quality in all aspects of the cancer area.
The "Organization of European Cancer Institutes" - the network of European cancer institute's/entities (OECI) was established in 1979 and works to improve cancer treatment and research for the benefit of cancer patients. Rigshospitalet (RH) and Herlev Gentofte Hospital (HGH) have individually applied for membership of OECI and are both admitted as members. Copenhagen Comprehensive Cancer Center is applying for accreditation as a "Comprehensive Cancer Center" in the future (2024). OECI accreditation achieves certification of CCCC's work carried out at the two highly specialized hospitals in the treatment of cancer.
Purpose and Responsibility
The board of Copenhagen Comprehensive Cancer Center is responsible for decision-making, prioritizing and professional responsibility for cancer treatment and its quality in CCCC. However, with the proviso that the Board's representatives from the Danish Cancer Society (KB), the University of Copenhagen (KU) and Danish Technical University (DTU) are not responsible for professional and scientific assessments/priorities that the Board makes. KB, UCPH/DTU representatives contribute with perspectives from the patient's side and the research/educational perspective, respectively. The day-to-day management of CCCC is handled by the Department Management (Chief Medical Officers and Chief Nurses) for the departments of Oncology at RH and HGH, which together make up the CCCC management.
The purpose of the CCCC is to strengthen collaboration on cancer treatment. Below are specified different settings and examples of handling hereof within the CCCC.
a) Continuation and expansion of the current collaboration between RH and HGH's departments of Oncology (and other relevant departments in the region) on quality development, optimization of patient pathways, as well as research and education. This is done within the departments' current financial framework or with external funding.
b) Temporary rescheduling of the course of treatment between the two departments of Oncology as assistance, e.g., in situations with equipment, breakdowns or severe vacancies. The cases are handled with the Board's intermediary by agreement between the two hospital managements.
c) Permanent reorganization of the course of treatment between the two departments of Oncology, e.g., by pooling expertise. This is handled with the Board's intervention and with the involvement of the Region's administrative (Group Executive Board) and political level (the Regional Council).
For both a) and b), this is done considering the proviso described in point 2 above regarding the roles of KB and UCPH.
The members of the Board can assist the CCCC management in applying for funds and external funding for research and education, as well as in the OECI CCCC accreditation application and approval process. CCCC Board members are expected to contribute with their knowledge, experience, and perspective, to ensure a consistently high standard for CCCC's work.
The board of Copenhagen Comprehensive Cancer Center reports to the hospital boards of RH and HGH. The management of the CCCC reports directly to the CCCC Board (see Appendix 1).
Composition of the CCCC Board
The Copenhagen Comprehensive Cancer Center board consists of 13 members representing respectively:
- 1 Executive Manager/Director of Center of RH: Leadership for Board
- 1 Deputy Director of HGH: Leadership for Board
- 2 Chief Medical Officers and 2 Chief Nursing Officers of Oncology of CCCC
- 1 Chief Surgical Officer of CCCC
- 1 Chief Medical Officer of Hemathology RH
- 1 Chief Medical Officer Pediatric Oncology RH
- 1 Senior Medical/Surgical Representative of Cancer Treatment of Zealand Region
- 1 Chair of Oncological Health Advisory Council (SFR)
- 1 Deputy Chair of Surgical Health Advisory Council (SFR)
- 1 Senior Representative of Center for Health (CSU)
- 1 Representative of Danish Cancer Society (KB)
- 1 Senior Representative of University of Copenhagen (KU)
- 1 Senior Representative for Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
The board is structured with a two-part management structure and the chairmanship is shared between the two incumbent Deputy Directors from RH and HGH.
The two Chief Physicians (Medical Officers), the Chief Surgical Officer, and two Chief Nurses, from the Departments of Oncology in CCCC, constitute the daily CCCC management The management strand is ensured by continuity in the organization, which contributes to the Board and the Management being able to make and implement decisions effectively.
The members of the CCCC Board
- Lisbet Ravn; Co-chair CCCC Board, Deputy Director of HGH
- Jannik Brennum; Co-chair CCCC Board, Executive Manager/Director of Center of RH
- Lisa Sengeloev; Chief Medical Officer Oncology CCCC, HGH
- Mads Nordahl Svendsen; Chief Medical Officer Oncology CCCC, RH
- Henrik Flyger; Chief Surgical Officer Oncology CCCC, HGH
- Puk Vad Vestergaard; Chief Nursing Officer CCCC, HGH
- Katrine Bjerre Løppenthin; Chief Nursing Officer CCCC, RH
- Peter Kampmann; Chief Medical Officer Hemathology CCCC, RH
- Lisa Lyngsie Hjalgrim; Chief Medical Officer Pediatric Oncology CCCC, RH
- Morten Ziebell; Chair Oncological Health Advisory Council (SFR)
- Maria Kondrup; Senior Representative of Cancer Treatment of Zealand Region
- Jens Georg Hillingsoe; Deputy Chair Surgical Health Advisory Council (SFR)
- Katrine Rønn Kæmpe; Representative of Center for Health (CSU)
- Lisbeth Høeg-Jensen; Representative of Danish Cancer Society (KB)
- Anders Lund; Senior Research Director of Biotech Research & Innovation Center (BRIC), University of Copenhagen (KU)
- Helle Waagepetersen; Institute Director for Technical University of Denmark Health (DTU)
Rules of Procedures of the CCCC Board
The CCCC Board generally works according to the following rules of procedure, which can be adjusted according to the Board's wishes and needs:
- 2-3 annual Board meetings
- All Board members are expected to participate in the meetings
- Meetings can be physical or virtual, depending on the presidency and members' preferences.
- An agenda is sent out and minutes are written for each Board meeting.
The Secretariat's assistance is provided by the hospitals in the CCCC to the Board.
Perspectives of CCCC Board
In Q4 2024 a new Health Reform was announced from the Danish government stating that the Capital region and Zealand region are to be united as a large joint Region of East Denmark in January 2027. The Copenhagen Comprehensive Cancer Center is looking forward to the new regional structure and are set on collaborating with the Oncologic parties within the current Zealand region.
CCCC is dedicated to establishing best of care Oncology services for all patients in the future Region of East Denmark, as well as organizing the Oncologic services in a joint and optimal structure.
A senior medical/surgical representative of Cancer treatment of the Zealand region is included in the CCCC Board, which is an important step towards further broad collaborations within cancer treatment and care in East Denmark.
CCCC Board include representation from the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) and from the University of Copenhagen (KU) which facilitates further collaboration between the parties within the scope of cancer research.