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The Senior Cancer Registrar reflects the mission, vision, and values of NM, adheres to the organization's Code of Ethics and Corporate Compliance Program, and complies with all relevant policies, procedures, guidelines and all other regulatory and accreditation standards.

The Senior Cancer Registrar understands and helps guide the day to day functions of the Cancer Registry, which consists of data information specialists that capture a complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status for every cancer patient in the Northwestern Medicine Healthcare Corporation system, as well as maintain cancer program accreditation through the American College of Surgeons, Commission on Cancer. The data provide essential information to researchers, healthcare providers, and public health officials to better monitor and advance cancer treatments, conduct research, and improve cancer prevention and screening programs.

The Senior Cancer Registrar proactively raises quality of care and quality of documentation issues to the appropriate committees, nurse and physician managers and helps facilitate necessary change. This role participates with interdisciplinary clinical and quality groups to define, measure and analyze quality and patient safety issues and practice concerns.     

Responsibilities:

• Work cooperatively and collaboratively with physicians and staff at all levels of seniority to define and achieve common aims. 
• Ensure complete, accurate and timely data abstraction for all NM reportable cancer cases. 
  • Review all case finding resources to identify reportable cases and enter cases into suspense, such as ICD-10 disease indices, path reports, cytology reports, autopsy reports, dermatology office reports, ambulatory surgery reports, as relevant to their assigned facilities
  • Abstract information from patients' electronic and/or manual medical records according to the Commission on Cancer standards.
  • Consult with physicians, physician offices, and outside facilities to obtain incomplete information or clarify discrepant documentation.
  • Update first course and subsequent treatment information as needed.
  • Maintain the requisite 80%/90% follow up rate on eligible cases per ACoS standards, utilizing follow up letters, physician contact, outside facility contact, and if needed, patient contact.
  • Update cancer status, progression/recurrence, and cause of death to provide accurate survival information.
  • Meet productivity reporting and quality standards; mentor registrars needing support in this area as needed
  • Enter information into facility's data base and submits to Illinois Cancer Registry and National Cancer Database in accordance with regulatory guidelines.
• Stay abreast of changes made by regulatory organizations and accrediting bodies to maintain compliance.  
  • Assure that American College of Surgeons (ACoS) standards are met in Cancer Registry.
  • Assist with Cancer Committee preparation and Survey/Program Activity Records responsibilities as required to meet accreditation by the ACoS, as needed. 
• Assist with cross coverage in daily registry activities as needed to ensure smooth work flow among individuals and as a team.
• Mentor new cancer registry staff and assist with orientation.  Provide oversight for non-CTR team members and their work.
• Identify improvement opportunities and participate in improvement activities. 
• Assist with data reporting.  Pull data and provide preliminary analysis.
• Completes other duties assigned by manager.

#INDC

Required:

• Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR)
• Minimum of 3 years of Cancer Registry experience
• Strong personal computer skills (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Preferred:

• 5 years of Cancer Registry experience
• Associate's or Bachelor’s degree in Health Information Technology Management or similar, or commensurate skills and work experience
• Experience with Epic, Meditech, Metriq, Mosaiq

Northwestern Medicine is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate in hiring or employment on the basis of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin, gender identity, veteran status, disability, sexual orientation or any other protected status.