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:
- 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.
- 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 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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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)].
Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
Grade Determinations:
GS-9 MRT (Cancer Registrar) - Coordinator:
- Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level.
In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following 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 communicate both verbally and in writing with administrative and management personnel, line supervisors, and top-management to optimally disseminate information, resolve queries, and handle administrative functions.
- Ability to develop and implement training mechanisms for registry staff within the VISN.
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 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 re-accreditation process every three years, attends quarterly Cancer Committee meetings to review standards prior to accreditation, completes abstracting of cases in addition to follow-up of cancer patients. This position will support the Washington, DC VA, who are certified, and undergoing surveys. As this is a position that will support Washington D. C. VA, knowledge of OncoTrax and VA system is critical, as patient load is higher than other VISN facilities with diverse patient population.
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-9.