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.
Experience and Education
(1)
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
(2)
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
(3)
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)..
Grade Determinations:
Lead MRT (Cancer Registrar), [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:
(a) Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities [ ] to meet deadlines[.]
(b) Knowledge of neoplastic disease processes, cancer staging systems, biologic and molecular prognostic indicators to determine derived stage[.]
(c) Knowledge of reportable diseases, surveillance, epidemiology and end results [ ] program, cancer staging systems, multiple primary and histology rules, international classification of diseases for oncology, [ ] morphology and topography, cancer treatment modalities, and data requirements[.]
(d) Ability to analyze data using comparative statistical methods and present the data in graph [ ] format[.]
(e) Ability to interpret and apply facility bylaws regarding the cancer program[.]
(f) Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements governing cancer registry operations to plan, organize, and maintain special cancer registries[.]
(g) Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules, and regulations.
Assignment. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity (difficulty), and range of variety, and be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. Lead [MRTs (Cancer Registrar)] are responsible for developing, organizing, implementing and maintaining an accurate system to identify all reportable diagnoses, assuring that all eligible cases are identified and coded into the registry system. Utilizes the electronic health record to identify and abstract/code the required data elements. Conducts lifetime follow-up on patients, documenting the progression/recurrence of their disease and other required elements. Distributes workload and maintains productivity while assuring accuracy and completeness of registry data. Analyzes and submits data to the internal and external entities as required. Prepares routine statistical reports.
Preferred Experience: Oncology Data Specialist, Cancer Tumor Registry Certification
Grandfathering Provision: All persons employed in VHA as a [MRT (Cancer Registrar)] on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have 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)].
Reference: VA Handbook 5005/128, Part II, Appendix 35 dated September 5, 2014. For more information on this qualification standard, please visit
https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.
Physical Requirements: The position is primarily sedentary, with some bending, walking and stooping required.