Qualifications

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
• 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)
• Experience and Education 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
• Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements listed above, the candidate must meet the following grade level requirements to qualify
• MRT (Cancer Registrar) - Coordinator, GS-9 Experience
• 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: 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
• Assignment
• For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time
• [MRTs (Cancer Registrar)] function as the coordinator of all activities associated with the cancer registry and cancer program
• Provides technical direction to program clerks and technicians who assist with the cancer registry
• Performs analysis of work processes to identify reasonable and efficient measurement of the quality of the work and identify areas of possible improvement
• Prepares routine and special statistical reports, narratives and graphic representations requiring use of registry data
• Conducts special studies and surveys for identifying opportunities to improve patient care
• [MRT (Cancer Registrar)] are subject matter experts on ACoS and/or facility standards pertaining to setting and monitoring goals, presenting statistical and written reports to identify resource needs and process improvement opportunities, and participating in strategic planning
• Serves as a liaison between the cancer committee and internal and external entities
• Serves as a core member on cancer committees to ensure that the discussions are consultative, address patient management issues, and contain applicable staging schema
• [MRT (Cancer Registrar)] are subject matter experts on registry and cancer program issues
• Preferred Experience: The VAMHCS holds CoC accreditation and we are looking for a Certified Cancer Registrar (ODS) to become part of the team in the Radiation Oncology Clinical Care Center
• The position prefers Oncology Data Specialist (ODS, formally known as CTR) certification as mandated by the American College of Surgeons to continue our CoC accreditation
• This position takes an active role in the shared Cancer Committee meetings between VISN facilities to review standards prior to accreditation, completes abstracting of cases in addition to follow-up of cancer patients, helping complete directive 1420
• This position will support the Martinsburg VA, completing quarterly Cancer Care Committee meetings and actively maintaining standards to maintain accreditation status
• As this is position will help review abstracting cases, knowledge of Onco Trax and VA system is critical
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8
• The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-9, (above the full performance level)
• Physical Requirements: May include but not limited to standing up to two hours per day, use of both hands, use of fingers, and sitting up to eight hours per day
• Patient Safety Competency Statement: The incumbent will be responsible for promoting a culture of safety and will fully cooperate in efforts to improve patient safety and eradicate potential events including the reporting of events resulting in actual or potential injury to a patient
• Incumbent must demonstrate knowledge of the reporting procedures involving safety issues relating to patients.