Lead Medical Records Technician (Cancer Registrar)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs; Albuquerque (NM); On-site; USD 50,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Join a forward-thinking organization dedicated to supporting patients with cancer. As a Lead Medical Records Technician, you will play a crucial role in managing cancer registries and ensuring compliance with legal and regulatory standards. This position requires a blend of medical knowledge and organizational skills to effectively analyze data and communicate findings. You'll work in a collaborative environment, contributing to the care and treatment of patients while advancing your career in a vital healthcare field. If you're passionate about making a difference in oncology, this opportunity is for you.

Qualifications

• Proficient in medical terminology and health records.
• Experience in cancer staging systems and epidemiology.

Responsibilities

• Organize work and set priorities to meet deadlines.
• Analyze data and present findings in graph format.

Skills

Medical Terminology

Data Analysis

Communication Skills

Knowledge of Cancer Staging

Organizational Skills

Education

Two years above high school

Courses in Anatomy and Physiology

Job description

Lead Medical Records Technician (Cancer Registrar) serves in a large, complex, VA Medical Center with medical and surgical oncology services and and a research program affiliated with a major medical school. Work of the position supports the care and treatment given to patients with malignant conditions.
Duties

Requirements

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. MRT (Cancer Registrar) candidates must be proficient in spoken and written English to be appointed as authorized by 38 U.S.C. §7403(f).

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 (6) months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record and one (1) 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: GS-09 Lead MRT (Cancer Registrar)

Experience. One year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level GS-08.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities. In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs

• Ability to organize work, set priorities, and delegate tasks/responsibilities to meet deadlines.
• Knowledge of neoplastic disease processes, cancer staging systems, biologic and molecular prognostic indicators to determine derived stage.
• Knowledge of reportable diseases, surveillance, epidemiology and end results program, cancer staging systems, multiple primary and histology rules, international classification of diseases for oncology, morphology and topography, cancer treatment modalities, and data requirements.
• Ability to analyze data using comparative statistical methods and present the data in graph format.
• Ability to interpret and apply facility bylaws regarding the cancer program.
• Knowledge of legal and regulatory requirements governing cancer registry operations to plan, organize, and maintain special cancer registries.
• Ability to communicate orally and in writing to ensure staff compliance with written directives, rules, and regulations.

Reference: VA Handbook 5005/128 Part II Appendix G35 Medical Records Technician (Cancer Registrar) dated March 05, 2020.

The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-9.

Physical Requirements: The work is sedentary. Some work may require movement between offices, hospitals, warehouses, and similar areas for meetings and to conduct work. Work may also require walking/standing, in conjunctions with travel to and attendance at meetings and/or conferences away from the work site. Incumbent may carry and lift light items weighing less than 15 pounds.