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.
Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.
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 /or 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). TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED
OR
Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED 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).
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)
Grade Determinations GS-0675-09:
To qualify as a MRT (Cancer Registrar) Coordinator, GS-9 You must demonstrate one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. This experience may include, but is not limited to; performing all tasks and duties autonomously. Search the medical record to identify and abstract/code all information. Organize and maintain the cancer registry data system. Review lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. Oversee tumor board documentation, ensuring documentation meets the requirements and standards set forth by ACoS and/or facility standards. Ascertain a random sampling of annual analytic case load for physician review to ensure quality registry data.
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 diverse 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.
Creditable Experience. Knowledge of current medical record technology. To be creditable, your experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current cancer registry practice and may be paid or non-paid employment.
Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is either directly related to the position to be filled or in a related field. Qualifying experience must also be equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a MRT (Cancer Registrar).
Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional MRT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MRT would receive one week of full-time credit for each two weeks of half-time work.
References: VA Handbook 5005/128, Part II, Appendix G35
Physical Requirements: Complies with all safety/fire prevention rules/regulations, using protective equipment when required and provided. Promptly reports all accidents and notifies supervisor of unsafe/unhealthful conditions in the workplace. Attends scheduled training sessions and participates in medical center/service level safety promotions as directed by the supervisor. Knows fire drill and emergency plans for work area, including location of all emergency fire equipment. The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. There are no unusual physical demands.