Clarification from the agency

First Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent James J Peters Bronx VA Medical Center employees. Second Area of Consideration: Current, Permanent VISN 2 (NY/NJ) and VHA VA Medical Center employees. Third Area of Consideration: The Public (All US Citizens).

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Duties above the full performance level for cancer assignment include but not limited to:
The Cancer Registry Coordinator (CRC) performs all activities associated with cancer registry operations and cancer program data quality initiatives. Incumbent performs analysis of work processes to identify reasonable and efficient measurement of the quality of the work and to identify areas of possible improvement. The CRC prepares routine and special statistical reports, narratives and graphic representations requiring use of registry data. The incumbent conducts special studies and surveys for identifying opportunities to improve patient data. CRCs are subject-matter-experts on CoC and/or facility data 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. S/he serves as Data Quality Coordinator for Cancer Committee, as well as internal and external entities. The incumbent serves as a core member on the Cancer Committee to ensure that the discussions are consultative, address patient management issues and contain applicable CoC data requirements.

The CRC is a consultant who works with staff at all organizational levels to assist the organization meet regulatory and accreditation compliance.

Selectee maybe allowed to work at the nearest VA facility , within 50 miles of your official address, as long as space is available; Salary is subject to duty station.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm.
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 000000
Telework: Not Authorized
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized

• Recruitment Incentives: Recruitment incentives may be authorized to full-time, part-time or intermittent individuals in their first appointment as a Federal employee or to a newly appointed former Federal employee with at least a 90-day break in service.
• Relocation Incentives authorized to full-time Federal employees who must change worksite[s] and physically relocate to a different geographic area when the approving official determines that without the incentive, it would be difficult to fill the position with a high-quality candidate. Relocation incentives are payable only to individuals who are employees of the Federal Government immediately before the relocation.

Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).

Qualifications

Basic Requirements:
A. 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).

B. 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.

C. 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).

D. Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

E. 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).

Internal applicants may qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard (written above) for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria).

Required experience - One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience is defined as but not limited to experience as a cancer coordinator administering, monitoring and reporting compliance of cancer programs, analyzing and interpreting data as well as developing policies and procedures for cancer program/cancer registry.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

• (a) Knowledge and understanding of ACoS (American College of Surgeons) and/or facility requirements for administering, monitoring, and reporting compliance of the cancer program to the governing bodies.
• (b) Ability to interpret data to set, evaluate, and adjust the cancer program and/or facility goals and objectives.
• (c) Ability to inform cancer registry staff on the technical components of the cancer database, coordinate workflow and monitor data for accuracy and quality measures.
• (d) Ability to multitask.
• (e) Ability to communicate with diverse disciplines regarding the facility requirements of the cancer program.
• (f) Ability to analyze and interpret data for use in facility strategic planning.
• (g) 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.

Preferred Experience: A two-year degree leading up to and including a certification as a credentialed Oncology Data Specialist by the national certifying organization (NCRA) with extensive knowledge of professional cancer registry operations and national standards. Including advanced knowledge of medical terminology, staging of cancer, and requirements of internal and external approving organizations and cancer committee processes and procedures.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.