Cancer Registrar Tech Spclst

SUMMARY:

Reports to the Oncology Data Management Manager, and under general direction, abstracts information from medical records of patients with positive or possible cancer diagnoses. The information is entered into a computerized database (IMPAC) system to establish a Cancer Registry data bank from which to draw information for annual reports, site specific studies, data requests and to assist physicians with short and long-term cancer patient care evaluations, etc.

Brown University Health employees are expected to successfully role model the organization's values of Compassion, Accountability, Respect, and Excellence as these values guide our everyday actions with patients, customers and one another. In addition to our values, all employees are expected to demonstrate the core Success Factors which tell us how we work together and how we get things done.

The core Success Factors include:
Instill Trust and Value Differences Patient and Community Focus and Collaborate RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operates computers and peripheral equipment and is skilled in the use of various software applications necessary to develop, prepare and maintain computerized records and develop reports. Responds to user questions regarding system functionality, capabilities, usage, limitations and the like. Assists in resolving complex issues related to review, analysis and abstraction of medical record information pertinent to documenting information on cancer patients.

Utilizes specialized software for cancer registry database management to establish import and export links to other software packages and to download and upload data for review and reporting. Develops and prepares various reports derived from electronic database utilizing a variety of software packages such as word processing, spreadsheets, graphics, Microsoft query applications and the like. Regularly exports new cancer care data to the Rhode Island State Department of Health utilizing communications software.

Retrieves Patient Disease Index and reviews against the active and suspense database contained in the Registry to ascertain if a patient is a case for follow-up, newly diagnosed and requires accessioning into the database or has developed a subsequent new primary site, requires a staging form to be appended to the medical record and/or completed/signed by the attending physician, etc.

Reviews the entire medical record to ascertain patient identification data, history of admissions, method of diagnosis, history and types of treatments and intent of treatment (cure or palliation) against the criteria for cancer case selection set forth by the American College of Surgeons (AcoS), the Rhode Island Department of Health, Rhode Island Hospital's Cancer Committee and other regulatory agencies. Abstracts cases thoroughly and concisely, substantiating codes, histology and staging.

Contacts outside institutions for additional treatment information if necessary. Adds follow-up to all cases. Interprets data and uses the ACoS Guidelines, Collaborative Staging Manual, and Multiple Primary and Histology Manual for recording extent of primary tumor and absence or presence of distant metastases, ICD-O (International Classification of Disease for Oncology) for tumor nomenclature and coding, FORDS Manual for coding, and the Rhode Island Census Tract Coding Guide for assignment of Census Tract Codes.

Familiarity with CoC Cancer Program Standards and participates in continuous review of the status of compliance with Standards. Accesses the health database on the World Wide Web to review cases lost to follow-up against various national death indexes. Notes date of death, cause of death and presence of cancer at death in the electronic record. Receives pathology reports and reviews both clinical history and microscopic diagnosis to identify new, potential and established patients requiring follow-up and updates information in appropriate electronic database.

Receives changes from other source lists from the Hospital Association of Rhode Island which are reviewed against the electronic databases for completeness and accuracy of the data. Discrepancies are investigated before any changes are made to the electronic record and death information is entered into the appropriate databases. Monitors and records lifetime follow-up on each patient listed in the registry via phone contacts, letters to physicians, patients and other agencies as appropriate.

Compares daily obituaries in the newspaper and on the Internet against master files or registered and suspected cases. Notes date of death in appropriate electronic records. Ensures staging form is in the record if appropriate, and, if not, refers to appropriate source to obtain the form. Participates in the evaluation of current and potential system capabilities against current and future needs.

Ensures proper operating condition of computer equipment, making minor adjustments as appropriate and contacting others for more extensive maintenance.…