"Alerted.org

Summary The incumbent serves as a Cancer Registry Coordinator in a complex, VA Health Care System with medical oncology, surgical oncology, dermatology services and a research program affiliated with a major medical school. The work of the position supports the care and treatment given to patients with malignant conditions. This is considered to be the full performance level for cancer registry assignments. Responsibilities The incumbent in this position is responsible for planning, organizing, actuating, and control of all activities in the Oncology Patient Registry Program. In this capacity, the Cancer Registry Coordinator, coordinates all Oncology Patient Registry Program activities associated with the Cancer Program at this Lexington VA Health Care System. Duties include, but not limited to: Responsible for providing advisory and technical service to administrative, medical, and ancillary professional staff as it relates to the integration of the Cancer Committee policy and procedures, the accreditation standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Program, the National VA Oncology Program, and the National Cancer Institute's SEER Program. Administer the Cancer Registry program at this Facility. Makes recommendations for program changes to the Cancer Committee, the Cancer Committee Chairperson, and the Cancer Liaison to the American College of Surgeons and to the Cancer Conference Chairperson. Utilizes the VISTA Oncology Software, VA Laboratory and Radiology software, and others as indicated for case finding, abstracting, follow-up, data transmittal, and statistical reporting/injuries pertaining to reportable cancer cases. Utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. Independently performs a wide variety of coding and abstracting functions, including: Codes stages of disease using American Joint Commission on Cancer's ( AJCC) staging requirements. Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, and the treatment( including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy, radiation therapy, hematologic procedures. Identifies and resolves coding discrepancies. Codes complex medical records containing diagnostic, surgical, and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify. Analyzes data retrieved and provides the results to healthcare staff for research, patient care, protocol studies and trends in cancer. Submits data monthly to the VHA National Oncology Program, as per directives VHA 1412(1) and VHA 1415 Submits data to the American College of Surgeon's National Cancer Database and the Kentucky State Cancer Registry within required timeframes. Utilizes the necessary follow-up letters for patients seen outside this facility and may require considerable administrative skills to locate a patient and obtain current medical information by contacting clinics, private physicians, state registries, other medical centers, vital statistics, death indexes, and obituaries. Performs research and periodic statistical reports and prepares correspondence by retrieving and releasing data following a standardized approach that meets the requirements of the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act regulations. Maintains health record indexes and compiles administrative and health statistics for physicians as well as all other health care staff at this facility and throughout the VA System as well as public health officials, medical center management, planners and others. Organizes and maintains a data system which conforms to the standards of an Approved Cancer Program and meets the needs of the users of the registry data. Develops and monitors quality management and improvement, performance projects, and special studies to enhance cancer patient care and to meet requirements of the Commission on Cancer. Monitors tumor board processes and procedures implemented to improve patient care and to verify compliance of plans and requirements. Provides technical advice to the clinical staff relative to the development and implementation of QM & I projects, and assists in the technical portion of the projects. Performs the quantitative and qualitative analysis on medical records to ensure that all component parts are present, accurate, complete, timely, and will meet the established requirements and standards of JCAHO and the American College of Surgeons. Participates in national Commission on Cancer patient care evaluations as required by the Commission (as permissible). Provides leadership, direction and documentation necessary for the coordination of the oncology patient registry activities involving various levels of staff. Responsible for timeliness of work, and takes initiative in applying the methods, procedures and techniques used in the work to achieve the Tumor Registry/Cancer Program overall goals. Performs other duties assigned and outlined in 30606-F Functional Statement. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00am-4:30pm Telework: ADHOC Only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 30606-F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. You may be required to serve a probationary period. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Qualifications To qualify for this position, applicants must meet all requirements by the closing date of this announcement. Permanent Employee Status: If you are unsure if you have permanent employee status to be considered for this position, you can verify your status by referring to Box 24 on your most recent SF-50. The box must have a 1 or 2 in order to be considered for this position. 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. Knowledge and understanding of ACoS and/or facility requirements for administering, monitoring, and reporting compliance of the cancer program to the governing bodies. Ability to interpret data to set, evaluate, and adjust the cancer program and/or facility goals and objectives. Ability to inform cancer registry staff on the technical components of the cancer database, coordinate workflow and monitor data for accuracy and quality measures. Ability to multitask Ability to communicate with individuals from various disciplines regarding the facility requirements of the cancer program. Ability to analyze and interpret data for use in facility strategic planning. 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. Preferred Experience: Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) Certified or certified within 1 year. Basis for Selection: Selections for positions will be based on the objective evaluation of the candidates' total qualifications for the position. "Qualifications" means the combination of experience, training, education, skills, knowledges, abilities, personal characteristics, and merit factors deemed to be pertinent to successful performance. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: Work is mostly sedentary. However, there will be some periods of walking, bending, lifting or carrying of work related items. Normal safety precautions and practices are required for working in a healthcare environment. This position requires emotional ability to deal effectively with multi-tasking and high volume of patient flow and competing demands. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.