Crystal McDaniel, CTR serves as the Vice President of Accreditation Services for the Oncology Services Division, where she directly oversees the daily operations of the Oncology Services Division specific to Commission on Cancer Accreditation Services and Projects. Crystal is directly involved with Commission on Cancer program development and management and oversees the RPI’s team of Commission on Cancer Project Directors and Project Managers. Crystal presently resides in Cross Plains, TX, with her son Logan (9) and daughter Jaci (7).
Crystal began working at Registry Partners in June of 2005 as a project Certified Tumor Registrar and Project Manager where she managed both accredited and non-accredited hospital based projects and project support staff. In January 2011, she was promoted to Project Director with expanded involvement with cancer program accreditation services and in the fall of 2011, she was selected by the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer (COC), as a CoC-Trained consultant.
In 2013 she was promoted to Accreditation and Registry Operations Director where she provided consultative services to existing cancer programs and those seeking initial accreditation; provided oversight cancer registry project operations with a special focus on process improvement, standardization and streamlining to increase operational efficiencies. Additionally, she served as a mentor and resource to Commission on Cancer based project managers and project specialists.
Crystal attended Texarkana College in Texarkana, Texas prior to earning her national certification as a Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR), in 2004. She began her career in the Oncology field in 2001 at UAMS/AHECSW (University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Area Health Education Centers Southwest) in Texarkana, Arkansas where she served as lead abstractor and cancer program assistant before joining Registry Partners, Inc. in 2005.
She is a member of several professional organizations including the: National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA), Texas Tumor Registrars Association (TxTRA) and the American Cancer Society where she has volunteered as chairperson for the Relay for Life and has also served as chairperson for the Cross Plains Cancer Walk.
Q&A with Crystal
Q: What have you found to be the most rewarding aspect of your job?
A: The most rewarding aspect of my job is seeing a program and/or registrar I have mentored be successful. Witnessing others gain confidence within themselves/their program and seeing improvements and positive outcomes for the program and/or registrar brings me great pleasure and purpose.
Q: Have you had the opportunity to be involved in the American Cancer Society or other agencies associated with cancer care?
A: The American Cancer Society is a valuable resource for any cancer program. Previously as the coordinator for Cancer Committee, I worked with the ACS to improve referrals for services they provide and improve the quality of care offered at the facility. I have also been involved with organizing teams for Relay for Life and currently serve annually as the Team Chair for the Cancer Walk for my local community.
Q: Do you have any advice for a facility considering Commission on Cancer Accreditation?
A: The CoC provides a framework for programs striving to provide the best patient outcomes and offer high-quality care. By becoming accredited, your program demonstrates its commitment to ensuring access is available to the full scope of services required to diagnose, treat and support patients with cancer. My advice to a program seeking accreditation is as following…
- Encourage active participation by each member of your committee.
- Request access to the Survey Application Record (SAR) and begin using this program to evaluate your compliance and progress with each standard.
- Request an assessment be conducted by a CoC-trained consultant. This assessment can evaluate the accuracy of your program’s interpretation of the standards, evaluate your program’s compliance with each standard and provide guidance when changes and/or improvements are needed.
Q: Tell us a little about the CoC surveyor and consultant training?
A: Annually, the CoC Surveyor and consultants training is held at the top of the American College of Surgeons building. Attending this training is a vital part of being a CoC-trained consultant. The training ensures surveyors and consultants stay abreast of standard changes; both involving the content and interpretation of each standard. It also helps increase each attendee’s knowledge of the standards and available best practices, as well as, gives the consultants an opportunity to provide feedback from programs to the Commission on Cancer.