Cancer Registrar - Cancer Research And Registry

Job Summary

To accurately identify, abstract, and maintain records of cancer and certain benign diseases according to state and national standards of completeness, timeliness and quality.

Education & Experience

• Required: Degree (Associate's or Bachelor's) with successful completion (C average or better) of two semesters of Human Anatomy and Physiology and one semester medical terminology
• Preferred: Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) certification from the National Cancer Registrars Association required post-hire within three (3) years.
• Preferred: Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Registered Health Information Administrator (RHIA) certification.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, histology, pathophysiology, and medical terminology.
• Knowledge of paper and electronic medical records.
• Knowledge of statistical and graphic concepts used in the presentation of cancer incidence, treatment, and survival information.
• Skills in the use of personal computers and related software applications.
• Interpersonal skills.
• Verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to abstract, code, and stage cancer data according to state and national coding standards.

Responsibilities

• Identifies cases from a variety of clinical sources to be included in the registry in accordance with the Mississippi Cancer Registry, commission on cancer, and/or cancer committee reportability requirements and national standards for determination of multiple primary cancers in an individual patient.
• Accurately analyzes and abstracts health information from paper-based and electronic medical records into the cancer registry software and obtains lifetime follow-up information in accordance with the timeliness and quality criteria established by state law and accrediting/certifying regulations.
• Determines the site of origin (topography) and morphology of the cancer and codes according to the international classification of diseases for oncology (ICD-O) and other national coding standards.
• Reads and interprets the components of the medical record, such as pathology reports, radiology reports, operative reports, physical exams and treatment modalities to correctly abstract, code and stage cancer cases according to national coding standards.
• Stages cancer records and records biomarkers and prognostic factors according to the American joint commission on cancer TNM staging system, seer summary staging system and other staging systems.
• Communicates with physicians, patients, other departments, outside clinics and other hospitals to obtain patient follow-up information, as well as, for data quality control and completeness of reporting.
• Conduct quality assurance activities such as review of abstracted data for accuracy, resolution of data edits, consolidation of multiple data reports into a concise record for each cancer case, and inclusion of additional treatment and follow-up information obtained after completion of the initial abstract.
• Participates in cancer educational activities.

Physical and Environmental Demands

• Requires occasional working hours significantly beyond regularly scheduled hours,
• Occasional travelling to offsite locations,
• Occasional activities subject to significant volume changes of a seasonal/clinical nature,
• Constant work produced subject to precise measures of quantity and quality,
• Occasional bending,
• Occasional lifting and carrying up to 25 pounds,
• Occasional climbing,
• Occasional crouching/stooping,
• Occasional kneeling,
• Occasional pushing/pulling,
• Occasional reaching,
• Constant sitting,
• Occasional standing,
• Occasional twisting,
• Occasional walking.