Tumor Registrar - PRN

About the role

Under general supervision, this position collects and retrieves data using a computerized cancer registry system and is responsible for case finding, abstracting, and follow-up of cases of malignant diseases diagnosed and treated at the medical center.

Responsibilities

• Reads and interprets medical information which is contained in medical records of cancer patients and codes topography and morphology of cancer cases.
• Codes and abstracts data for entry into the cancer registry’s computer system.
• Affords assistance and collaboration with clinicians, epidemiologists, and other researchers on cancer-related studies and research projects; indicates the strengths and limitations of cancer registry data and provides guidance in the appropriate use of registry data.
• Finds and identifies all cases of malignant disease from departments of the medical center and clinics where patients are diagnosed and treated, such as pathology, radiation therapy, oncology clinics, from the medical record department disease index, and registry software reports including interface engine.
• Collaborates with the Tumor Registrars Association of Maryland to provide the required data set for statewide registry.
• Obtains core information from patient medical records, including demographic characteristics, history of cancer, diagnostic procedures, diagnosis, stage extent of disease and treatment.
• Contacts other registries or physician offices when necessary.
• Anually updates disease status of every living patient in the registry to maintain compliance with The Commission on Cancer’s program standard 6.5. An 80 percent follow-up rate is maintained for all analytic cases from the cancer registry reference date. A 90 percent follow-up rate is maintained for all analytic cases diagnosed within the last five years from the cancer registry reference date.
• Maintains a data system to conform to the standards of cancer registry operation and meet the needs of the users of the registry data.
• Assembles and disseminates data collected in the cancer registry; answers requests for data; completes routine and special reports which summarize the cancer experience of the medical center.
• Performs a variety of clerical, secretarial and technical duties in the performance of cancer registry tasks.
• Encourages physician compliance with ACOS/COC standards for staging by providing pathology reports and staging information forms.
• Manages hospital multidisciplinary cancer conferences.
• Compiles an agenda, attends weekly/biweekly cancer conferences, records data elements during the meetings and regularly compiles tumor board data for review at the quarterly Cancer Conference meetings.
• Maintains compliance with The Commission on Cancer’s program standard 4.3, Cancer Registry Staff Credentials. Obtains/maintains CTR certification. Participates in both regional and national educational events.
• Tracks, records and reports CME credits to hospital administration and National Cancer Registrar’s Association as required. Maintains National Cancer Registrar’s Association and Tumor Registrar’s Association of Maryland memberships.
• Maintains compliance with productivity standards regarding case follow up and analytic case abstracts while balancing additional registry work.
• Fulfills data requests as requested. Collaborates with requestors to create and edit reports to meet the needs of hospital and/or departmental leadership. Participates in special projects as needed.
• Tasks may include programs such as Quality Oncology Practice Initiative and American College of Surgeon Survey on Covid-19 in Oncology Registry.
• Captures and records subsequent treatments when they are found while completing follow up or other registry tasks.
• Reviews and updates disease status and vital status when monthly and annual Death Match Report is provided by the Maryland Cancer Registry.
• Assists in verifying all cancer patients are captured at GBMC once the annual reconciliation list is obtained from the State of Maryland. Updates RCRS list monthly requiring cases to be further abstracted and/or completed.

Qualifications

• Education: High School
• Licenses/Certifications: Certification eligible for Accreditation by the American Health Information Management Association; Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) or Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) certification preferred or Degree in Health Sciences or related field.

Skills

• Ability to read and interpret medical information in order to code and classify malignant cases according to American College of Surgeons (ACOS) requirements
• Ability to abstract information from patient medical records and histories in order to complete the data elements required of the cancer registry computer system.
• Ability to operate a computer terminal in order to retrieve patient information and perform cancer registry inquiry tasks.
• Ability to analyze and interpret cancer registry data for users of the cancer registry.