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Med Rec Tech (Cancer Reg)

Department of Veterans Affairs
Veterans Health Administration
Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHCS)
This job announcement has closed

Summary

The Tumor Registrar position is located under the Patient Care Service Line - Acute Care and Specialty Service. The incumbent follows the care and treatment of patients diagnosed with cancer. The incumbent is primarily responsible for assisting the design, implementation, and maintenances of the Cancer Registry by abstracting and reporting required information and data elements to the tumor registry.

Overview

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Hiring complete
Open & closing dates
04/19/2022 to 05/03/2022
Salary
$44,740 to - $64,410 per year
Pay scale & grade
GS 7 - 8
Location
1 vacancy in the following location:
Montgomery, AL
1 vacancy
Remote job
No
Telework eligible
No
Travel Required
Not required
Relocation expenses reimbursed
No
Appointment type
Permanent
Work schedule
Full-time
Service
Excepted
Promotion potential
8
Supervisory status
No
Security clearance
Other
Drug test
No
Position sensitivity and risk
Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
Trust determination process
Announcement number
CBTB-11464408-22-LAP
Control number
649726200

This job is open to

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Clarification from the agency

First area of consideration will be current permanent Central Alabama Veterans Healthcare System (CAVHCS) employees.

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Duties

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Duties include but are limited to:

  • Utilizes information from Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons Cancer Program guidelines, National VA Oncology Program, and National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (NCI SEER) standards.
  • Identifies and abstract pertinent information regarding patient's diagnosis including demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment.
  • Utilizes pertinent references such as coding references to ensure complete and accurate data is captured.
  • Understand anatomy & physiology, medical terminology, the structure and physiology of major anatomical systems and major disease processes.
  • Utilizes specific resources, such as medical references, accepted nomenclatures, accepted disease and operation classification systems, medical dictionaries, manuals, textbooks, and glossaries.
  • Uses medical terminology related to every professional specialty, particularly in relation to neoplastic disease.
  • Uses the classification and coding systems, determine how to code and record new diagnostic terms, treatments, drugs and therapies for which no reference or precedent is available as a guide to coding and classification.
  • Keeps abreast of current trends in modes of therapy in relation to method of diagnosis to type of treatment.
  • Uses VISTA Tumor Registry database to enter, edit, update, list, delete and print relevant cases.
  • Assemble and disseminates data collected within the Tumor Registry database when called upon for information.
  • Provides technical direction to program coordinator and support staff who assist with the Tumor Registry program.
  • Manages workload and maintains productivity.
  • Identifies and recommends future departmental needs, such as staffing, space, and equipment.
  • Develops operating procedures for the department.
  • Designs, implements and maintains a tumor registry within the framework of directives.
  • Other duties as required.
Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730-1600 or 0800-1630, to be determined, Subject to change based on agency needs.
Telework: Not Available
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: GS-8, 51349F; GS-7, 51348F
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

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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.
  • Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
  • Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
  • Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.

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.
  • 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:

    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.

    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).

Grade Determinations:
MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-7
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:
  1. Knowledge of pathophysiology to understand the spread of the cancer disease process.
  2. Ability to analyze the electronic health record and enter appropriate data into the OncoTrax cancer registry software abstract.
  3. Knowledge of ACoS standards regarding tumor boards, including clinical staging, prognostic indicators, clinical guidelines, and clinical trials availability.
Assignment. [MRTs (Cancer Registrar)] at this grade level serve in developmental cancer registrar positions by thoroughly searching the medical record to identify and abstract/code all information. Organizes and maintains the cancer registry data system. Reviews lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. Coordinates and attends multidisciplinary tumor boards to ensure that appropriate documentation is maintained. Abstracts by collecting, summarizing and coding detailed demographic, and clinical information.

MRT (Cancer Registrar), GS-8
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:
  1. Knowledge of professional registry operations.
  2. Knowledge of medical terminology, staging of cancer, and requirements of internal and external approving organizations.
  3. Knowledge of the cancer committee processes and procedures to improve patient care and verify compliance with ACoS and/or facility standards.
  4. Ability to serve as a subject matter expert on cancer programs for the medical center.
  5. Skill in utilizing electronic health records and cancer registry software.
Assignment. This is the full performance level for this assignment. MRTs (Cancer Registrar) at this level perform all tasks and duties autonomously. Searches the medical record to identify and abstract/code all information. Organizes and maintains the cancer registry data system. Reviews lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. Oversees tumor board documentation, ensuring documentation meets the requirements and standards set forth by ACoS and/or facility standards. Ascertains a random sampling of annual analytic case load for physician review to ensure quality registry data.

References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G35

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-8.

Physical Requirements: Work is primarily sedentary, employees may be required to walk throughout the campus for meetings, may be required to carry objects such as manuals or cases of paper as needed for daily work

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Additional information

Receiving Service Credit or Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee's credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.

VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.

To ensure compliance with an applicable preliminary nationwide injunction, which may be supplemented, modified, or vacated, depending on the course of ongoing litigation, the Federal Government will take no action to implement or enforce the COVID-19 vaccination requirement pursuant to Executive Order 14043 on Requiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Federal Employees. Therefore, to the extent a VA job announcement includes language requiring applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 pursuant to Executive Order 14043, that requirement does not currently apply to this Job Announcement. VA may request information regarding your vaccination status, if selected, for the purposes of implementing other workplace safety protocols, such as masking, physical distancing, testing, travel, and quarantine.

If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

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, résumé, 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.

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.

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