This position is located in the Health Information Management (HIM) Section of Health Administration Service (HAS) at the Central Virginia VA Health Care System (CVHCS). The work of the position supports the care and treatment given to patients with malignant conditions. This is considered to be a developmental level leading to a full performance level for Medical Records Technician (MRT) (Cancer Registrar) assignments.

Duties

The full performance level for this assignment. [MRTs (Cancer Registrar)] at this level perform all tasks and duties autonomously. Searches the medical record to 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. Oversees tumor board documentation, ensuring documentation meets the requirements and standards set forth by ACoS and/or facility standards. Ascertains a random sampling of annual analytic case load for physician review to ensure quality registry data. A full range of duties are performed with additional guidance and direction regarding unfamiliar or unusual situations. Cancer registrars they search the electronic health record to identify and abstract/code all Registry information. They organize and maintain the Cancer Registry data system. Reviews lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. S/he oversees Tumor Board documentation, ensuring that the documentation meets the requirements and standards set forth by ACoS and/or facility standards. They also ascertain a random sampling of annual analytic case load for physicians to review and ensure quality Registry data. The incumbent of this position is responsible for planning, organizing, actuating, and controlling all activities in the Cancer Registry. In this capacity, the Cancer Registrar coordinates all activities associated with the Cancer Program at this VA Healthcare System. Incumbent is 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 (ACoS) Commission on Cancer Program, the VA Oncology Program, and the National Cancer Institute's SEER Program. Incumbent has full program authority to administer the Cancer Registry program at this facility. Incumbent makes recommendations for program changes to the Cancer Committee, the Cancer Committee Chairperson, and the Cancer Liaison to the ACoS. Incumbent is an integral part of the Cancer Program at the CVHCS. The MRT (Cancer Registrar) serves in a level 1a complexity VA healthcare system with medical oncology, radiation oncology, surgical oncology services and a research program affiliated with a major medical school. The Central Virginia VA Health Care System consists of a complex tertiary care healthcare facility with 349 operating beds and four outpatient clinics in Fredericksburg (2), Charlottesville and Emporia. These facilities provide some of the finest medical care and cutting-edge technology in central Virginia. Work Schedule: M-F 8am-4:30pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: VA Handbook 5005/128 PART II APPENDIX G35 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. Citizenship. Be a citizen of the United States. Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with [38 U.S.C. § 7407(a). 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. According to the requirements of the Commission on Cancer, the CVHCSs Cancer Committee, the National VA Oncology Program and the NCI SEER Programs, incumbent identifies required reportable diseases in this facility's patients using the current VistA Oncology Program software. Thoroughly searches the electronic health record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis. This includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment. Coding assignments may involve highly technical, complex diagnoses/procedures. Utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. Codes information contained on several forms and documents that makes up an entire record; codes diseases, surgical procedures, and co-morbid conditions. In addition, uses specific codes required in a Cancer Registry - stage of disease, morphology and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual, and the STORE manual. Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. These include: Thoroughly searches the electronic health record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis. This includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment. Coding assignments may involve highly technical, complex diagnoses/procedures. The incumbent utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected. Codes information contained on several forms and documents that makes up an entire record; codes diseases, surgical procedures, and co-morbid conditions. In addition, uses specific codes required in a Cancer Registry - stage of disease, morphology and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) Staging Manual, and the STORE manual. Independently codes a wide variety of medical diagnostic, therapeutic and surgical procedures. These include: 1) Stages of disease using AJCC's staging requirements. 2) Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, treatment, (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy). 3) Identifies coding discrepancies. 4) Facilitates resolution of coding discrepancies by discussion with providers. 5) Codes complicated health records having diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify. 6) Reviews records to obtain data. 7) Enters data obtained from the record into the registry software. 8) Analyzes data retrieved and provides the results to health care staff for research, patient care, protocol studies and trends in cancer. The incumbent submits data automatically to the VA Central Cancer Registry, per directives, submits data to the ACoS's National Cancer Database if their Cancer Program is ACoS approved. Data includes codes for diagnosis and procedures, topography, morphology, and stage of disease, provider information and coded data for the treatment of cancer. Collects core data from patient records including demographic characteristics, diagnosis procedures, diagnoses, stage, and extent of disease. The incumbent ensures that data is reported accurately and in correct format. Devises format for some information, to meet requirements established by requests. 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. The incumbent must follow these patients until their death, entering the progression of their disease into the computer program, using narrative and coding as required in the fields. Each patient abstract is updated as recurrences are identified and their annual follow-up is completed. The incumbent attends and facilitates the Cancer Committee meetings to monitor compliance with ACoS standards to ensure certification of the Cancer Program (if applicable). This includes preparing meeting Agendas in collaboration with the Cancer Committee Chairperson and preparing and disseminating Minutes from the meetings. The incumbent is obliged to verify updates to maintain compliance with Regulatory Organizations. Monitors Cancer Committee processes and procedures implemented to improve patient care and to verify compliance of plans and requirements. The incumbent provides technical advice to the clinical staff relative to the development and implementation of Quality Management & Improvement projects and assists in the technical portion of the projects. S/he provides administrative guidance and advice to staff regarding methods of proper use of AJCC Staging forms and other health record documentation concerning the cancer patient. The incumbent performs analysis of work processes or service delivery practices to identify reasonable and efficient measurement of the quality of the work, or the activity, and to identify areas of possible improvement. Performs the quantitative and qualitative analysis on health records to ensure that all component parts are present, accurate, complete, timely, and will meet the established requirements and standards of The Joint Commission and the ACoS. The incumbent initiates, conducts, and facilitates special projects, studies, and surveys which improve patient care and support the patient with cancer. S/he identifies steps of processes and routine practices that might be opportunities for applying quality improvement techniques. S/he participates in activities to gather information for time studies or quality assurance studies for assessing and improving cancer patient diagnoses, treatment, and quality of life. The incumbent gathers information through local, as well as national, ACoS annual Patient Care Evaluation Studies in order to identify potential for significant quality process improvement. S/h participates in national Commission on Cancer patient care evaluations as required by the Commission. Performs other related duties as assigned. Grade Determinations: One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Demonstrated [Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities]. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate [all of] the following KSAs: (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. References: VA Handbook 5005/128 PART II APPENDIX G35 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-08. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Central Virginia VA Health Care System 1201 Broad Rock Boulevard Richmond, VA 23249 US
• Name: Adrienne Joyner
• Phone: 980-401-2558
• Email: [email protected]