Requisition ID
2025-3847
Job Summary
Cancer Registrar / Oncology Data Specialist
Aptive Resources is seeking Oncology Data Specialists (ODS-C) to support cancer registry operations within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Veterans Health Administration (VHA). The selected candidate will perform cancer casefinding, abstraction, follow-up, and data quality activities using VA-approved cancer registry software. The role ensures complete, accurate, and timely cancer data reporting in accordance with VA, national registry, and accreditation standards.
Primary Responsibilities
Key Responsibilities: Cancer Casefinding and Data Abstraction
- Perform cancer casefinding, accessioning, and abstraction of oncology cases into VHA-approved cancer registry software.
- Complete the full NAACCR data set, including VA-specific supplemental fields, to produce a comprehensive patient record.
- Document and substantiate all coded data using detailed text fields for:
- Patient history and physical exam o Imaging, scans, and scopes
- Laboratory and diagnostic procedures
- Pathology findings
- Treatment and surveillance
- TNM staging and prognostic factors
- Assign American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) staging for all eligible cases in accordance with current AJCC and SEER guidelines.
- Complete all applicable physician TNM staging fields during case ascertainment or case completion. Reporting and Registry Compliance
- Ensure registry data supports reporting requirements for:
- VA Central Cancer Registry (VACCR)
- State Central Cancer Registries
- American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (CoC)
- Maintain compliance with all applicable registry standards and coding guidelines, including:
- NAACCR
- SEER
- AJCC
- Commission on Cancer
- National Cancer Institute (NCI)
- WHO International Classification of Diseases for Oncology (ICD-O)
- Apply current and historical coding manuals as appropriate for the patient’s diagnosis year. Follow-Up and Data Maintenance
- Maintain patient follow-up information including:
- Last vital status
- Disease status
- Supporting documentation
- Update follow-up records as required, including when patients are identified as deceased or when subsequent primary cancers are reported. Quality Assurance and Data Integrity
- Provide the Contract Manager with a list of completed cases.
- Submit periodic reports to the Oncology Data Lead using VA-approved trackers documenting case review results.
- Tracker reports must include at minimum:
- Facility Identification Number (FIN)
- Accession/Sequence Number
- Primary Site
- Class of Case
- Histology/Behavior
- Diagnosis Date
- Tumor Size
- Extent of Disease (EOD)
- SEER Summary Stage (SSS)
- AJCC Stage
- Treatment Modality Summary
- Last Follow-Up Date
- Personnel Name
- Notes describing identified issues and corrections
- Participate in VISN or facility cancer committee quality reviews when requested.
- Correct all identified data issues within 30 days of notification from VA Central Office (VACO) or facility quality assurance reviews, at no additional cost to the Government. Security and Confidentiality
- Maintain strict confidentiality of patient records in accordance with:
- Privacy Act of 1974
- VA computer access security agreements
- All applicable federal and VA information security policies.
Minimum Qualifications
Minimum Qualifications:
• ODS-C credential in good standing.
• Minimum 2+ years of ODS-C, cancer registry experience.
• Demonstrated experience with cancer case abstraction, staging, and registry data standards.
• Ability to maintain ODS-C certification through required continuing education credits.
• Ability to complete all VA mandatory training and educational requirements by required deadlines.
