The Cancer Registrar Coordinator is a staff position located under the Specialty Care Service at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. This position supports the care and treatment given to patients with malignant conditions. Incumbent is responsible for coding, abstracting and reporting required information and data elements related to the Cancer registry.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Experience. One year of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record. Six months of the required one year of experience must have provided the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) needed to perform MRT work. OR Education. Two years above high school with a minimum of 12 semester hours directly related to MRT work (e.g., courses in medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, and introduction to health records). OR Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience: (a) Six months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology courses. (b) Successful completion of a course for medical technicians, hospital corpsmen, medical service specialists, or hospital training obtained in a training program given by the Armed Forces or the U.S. Maritime Service under close medical and professional supervision. Training may be substituted on a month-for-month basis for up to six months of experience, provided the training program included courses in anatomy, physiology, and medical record techniques and procedures. The position requires six additional months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). English Language Proficiency. MRT (Cancer Registrar) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f).. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Cancer Registrar) on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have 3 met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Such employees may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance (journeyman) level, or changed to lower grade within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the journeyman level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (2) MRTs (Cancer Registrar)who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (3) MRTs (Cancer Registrar) initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education that meets all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (4) Employees who are retained as a MRT (Cancer Registrar) under this provision and subsequently leave the occupation, lose protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry as a MRT (Cancer Registrar). Grade Determinations for Medical Records Technician (Cancer Registrar) Coordinator, GS-09 Experience. One year of creditable experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-8 and must demonstrate the KSAs for this grade level (a) Knowledge of professional registry operations. (b) Knowledge of medical terminology, staging of cancer, and requirements of internal and external approving organizations. (c) Knowledge of the cancer committee processes and procedures [ ] to improve patient care and verify compliance with ACoS and/or facility standards. (d) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert on cancer programs for the medical center. (e) Skill in utilizing electronic health records and cancer registry software In addition to the experience above, you must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. (a) Knowledge and understanding of ACoS and/or facility requirements for administering, monitoring, and reporting compliance of the cancer program to the governing bodies. (b) Ability to interpret data to set, evaluate, and adjust the cancer program and/or facility goals and objectives. (c) Ability to inform cancer registry staff on the technical components of the cancer database, coordinate workflow and monitor data for accuracy and quality measures. (d) Ability to multitask (e) Ability to communicate with individuals from various disciplines regarding the facility requirements of the cancer program. (f) Ability to analyze and interpret data for use in facility strategic planning. (g) Ability to develop cancer program/cancer registry policies and procedures to ensure patient-centered care for cancer patients in accordance with government-wide, agency, and facility requirements. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: The work is usually sedentary, but it requires periods of walking, standing, bending, or climbing, and employees may carry light items such as books, instruments, laptops, and similar materials.
The incumbent serves as a Medical Record Technician at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (Cancer Registrar). The MRT (Cancer Registrar) is responsible for medical records and will identify and abstract/code all information. Organizes and maintains the cancer registry data system. Reviews lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. Coordinates and attends multidisciplinary tumor boards to ensure that appropriate documentation is maintained. The abstract is conducted by collecting, summarizing, coding detailed demographic and clinical information, and assisting with organizing and maintaining the cancer registry data system. Assists with lifetime follow-up on patients, including cancer status and vital status. FUNCTIONS OR SCOPES OF PRACTICE Oncology Data Management and Analyses - Incumbent uses a variety of software programs to retrieve, track and analyze pertinent data from the oncology patient database and other web-based programs. Curates, analyzes, compiles, consolidates, reviews and edits information relevant to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, clinical trial participation and disease surveillance. Analyses are regarding quality of cancer care, utilization patterns, clinical outcomes, performance measures/monitors, patient demographics, incidence, and workload capture. Incumbent monitors cost of operations when contract services are utilized to provide leadership guidance on hiring actions as long-term strategic objective. Interprets and presents data gained from various federal and non-federal sources. Continually monitors data quality for compliance to ensure compliance with VHA standards, program goals and objectives are met. Reports findings to Supervisor. Determines reasons and variations between goals and actual performance and takes or recommends corrective actions. - Analyzes and tracks a variety of case finding sources daily/weekly/monthly, including but not limited to clinic lists, weekly/ monthly Cancer Conference agenda, cancer patient tracking systems, laboratory and procedure - Prepares various reports to effectively assess organization-wide progress towards established goals. Attends meetings and presents prepared analytical briefings, exhibits, charts, reports, and other narrative and statistical material relevant to the program's objectives as required by the Cancer Committee. - Monitor cancer committee processes and procedures regarding oncology data management standards, implemented to improve patient care and to verify compliance with requirements. Incumbent provides administrative guidance and advice to staff regarding methods of proper use of staging systems and other EHR/medical record documentation concerning the patient with cancer. Incumbent prepares meeting reports and ensures appropriate documentation in compliance with local and national standards regarding oncology data management. The incumbent collaborates with the Cancer Program Manager and Cancer Committee Chair to compile, edit, publish, and disseminate a quarterly and annual reports. Works closely with other departments using a multidisciplinary approach in the prevention and treatment of cancer. The incumbent contributes content to maintain an up-to-date Policy & Procedure Manual for the Oncology Data Program in compliance with accreditation bodies, updated when required, and approved by the Cancer Committee. Works closely with the supervisor to prepare for the American College of Surgeons, CoC tri-annual accreditation surveys, and other site visits related to oncology care as required. - The incumbent serves as a resource for cancer programs in the VISN and across the enterprise regarding obtaining and maintaining College of Surgeons', CoC accreditation, tracking malignancies, documentation of staging, and testing relational database systems and software when required. Incumbent serves as the subject matter expert and point of contact on oncology data management issues for the facility and VISN administration. Program Management Activities: - Assists in the development and implementation of quality control activities and improvement measures, performance projects and special studies to enhance cancer patient care to meet requirements of VHA Directives, the Commission on Cancer and other accreditation bodies. - Coordinates physician review for data quality initiatives or collaborates with the designated Data Quality Coordinator to Cancer Committee to conduct on a quarterly basis. Other duties as described in Functional Statement. Work Schedule: 08:30-05:00 Monday-Friday Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 71105-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized