Medical Records Technicians (MRT) (Cancer Registrar) at this level perform all tasks and duties autonomously. He/she searches the medical record to identify and abstract/code all information. Organizes and maintains the cancer registry data system. MRT (Cancer Registrar) eeviews lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. Oversees tumor board documentation, ensuring documentation meets the requirements and/or facility standards.

Qualifications:

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

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.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English.

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). Pls provide copy of your transcript. 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. 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). 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).

Grade Determinations :

GS 09: (1) Experience . One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS 8. Equivalent GS 8 experience to include but not limited to the following: (a) Knowledge of professional registry operations. (b) Knowledge of medical terminology, staging of cancer, and requirements of internal and external approving organizations. (c) Knowledge of the cancer committee processes and procedures to improve patient care and verify compliance with American College of Surgeons (ACoS) and/or facility standards. (d) Ability to serve as a subject matter expert on cancer programs for the medical center. (e) Skill in utilizing electronic health records and cancer registry software. (2) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate [all of] the following

KSAs:

(a) Knowledge and understanding of ACoS 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 individuals from various 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 governmentwide, agency, and facility requirements.

Preferred Experience:

Current ODS/CTR certification.

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 09. T

Physical Requirements:

The work is sedentary. However, there may be some walking, standing, bending, carrying light items such as papers, books, binders, small parts. Must be able to readily read computer screens and small text. No special physical demands are required to perform the work.