Introduction
The Georgia Cancer Registry (GCR) is a population-based cancer registry that includes all cancer cases diagnosed in Georgia residents since January 1, 1995. The GCR serves the entire state of Georgia, which includes a population of approximately 11 million people.
The purpose of the GCR is to collect, analyze, utilize, and disseminate cancer incidence information. Such information helps state agencies, health care providers and Georgia citizens to monitor cancer incidence trends; plan and implement cancer control and prevention activities; develop public and professional education programs; and stimulate scientific cancer research.
Legal authority of the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) to collect health information established the GCR. The Official Code of Georgia (O.C.G.A.) Chapter 12 § 31-12-1 empowers the DPH to “… conduct studies, research and training appropriate to the prevention of diseases….”. O.C.G.A. § 31-12-2 allows the DPH to require certain diseases and injuries to be reported in a manner and at such times as may be prescribed.
All health care providers in the state of Georgia are required to report specific information on cancer in their patient population to the Georgia Cancer Registry. This includes all facilities providing diagnostic evaluations and/or treatment for cancer patients, such as: hospitals, outpatient surgical facilities, laboratories, radiation therapy and medical oncology facilities, and physician offices. In addition, reporting agreements are maintained with neighboring states so that Georgia residents who are diagnosed or treated in facilities out of state can be identified.
The code also addresses the confidentiality of information requested by DPH, and releases from civil liability providers reporting this information (§ 31-12-2 (a)). This section states, “…all such reports shall be deemed confidential and shall not be open to inspection by the public.”
The GCR participates in the National Program for Cancer Registries (NPCR). NPCR was established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 1992 through the Federal Cancer Registry Amendment Act (Public Law 102-515). NPCR provides funding and guidance for the development of cancer registries throughout the United States.
The GCR is a member of the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR), which is a professional society that was established in 1987. NAACCR provides ongoing development of cancer registries and the establishment of registry standards.
The Georgia Department of Public Health has designated the Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics (GCCS) at the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University as its agent for the purpose of collecting and editing cancer data. The GCCS is one of the population-based cancer registries supported by the increasingly expanding Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program of the National Cancer Institute. The SEER Program is the most authoritative source of information on cancer incidence and survival in the United States. Since 1975, the GCCS has collected detailed information on incident cases of cancer in a five-county area of metropolitan Atlanta. In 1978, ten rural Georgia counties were added to the SEER program creating the Metropolitan Atlanta and Rural Georgia SEER Registry. In August 2010, the remaining counties of Georgia were added to the SEER program making Georgia a statewide SEER registry. Given its extensive background in cancer registration, the GCCS was selected to be the designated agent of DPH to conduct the day-to-day data management activities for the entire state of Georgia.
The Georgia Cancer Registry and the Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics as a combined Georgia registry will furthermore be referenced as the Georgia Cancer Registry (GCR).