Oncology Data Specialist

St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System; Savannah, Northern (GA, KY); Hybrid; USD 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Joseph’s/Candler Health System in Savannah, GA seeks an Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) to compile and maintain cancer registry records from diagnosis through treatment. You will contact discharged patients, families, and physicians to ensure follow-up and prepare reports.

The role emphasizes accuracy, regulatory knowledge, collaboration with the Medical Director, and adapting to new technologies. A preferred Associate's degree and 1–2 years in tumor registry or medical records are required

Qualifications

• Associate's degree preferred; college-level anatomy and physiology courses encouraged.
• 1–2 years tumor registry or health-related/medical records experience preferred.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to learn and adapt to new technologies and software.
• Excellent research skills.

Responsibilities

• Remains current on regulatory data management to comply with STORE, ACS-COC, NCDB, and Georgia Cancer Registry.
• Acquires cancer information from diagnostic/treatment reports and records to complete missing data elements.
• Abstracts demographic, diagnostic, epidemiologic, treatment and survival data within set timelines.
• Confirms diagnoses meet criteria for inclusion in the SJC Cancer Registry and reviews reports in real time.
• Reviews disease index for discharges (IP & OP) and supports cancer conference activities.

Skills

Independent working

Written and verbal communication

Learning opportunities

Adaptability

Research skills

Education

Associate's Degree - Preferred

Anatomy & Physiology courses

Job description

The position of the ODS combines the basic registry skills set and deliverables to include compiling and maintaining records of hospital patients treated for cancer from diagnosis through treatment, contacting discharged patients, their families, and physicians to maintain the Registry with follow-up information, and running statistical reports from the registry as requested. Candidate must demonstrate professional appearance and attitude. Excellent organizational and communication skills are mandatory. Adaptability, flexibility, self initiative and ability to prioritize work assignments are necessary. Exceptional collaborative skills expected. This position utilizes confidential information on a daily basis. Information may include confidential co-worker data, patient medical or financial data, sensitive corporate trade information, physician practice information. Disclosure could be damaging to the Organization, our patients or our medical staff. Disclosure of this type of information may be misunderstood by the community and have a detrimental public relations effect on the Organization. Must be willing and able to pass the ODS exam within 3 years of hire.

Education

Associate's Degree - Preferred

Completed or willing to complete college-level Human Anatomy and Human Physiology course(s)

Experience

1-2 Years Tumor Registry - Preferred

1-2 Years of health-related field or Medical Records experience preferred

• Ability to work independently as well as collaboratively.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Enthusiastic about enhanced learning opportunities (i.e. conferences, classes, etc.)
• Ability to learn and adapt to new technologies and software.
• Excellent research skills.

License & Certification

Must obtain Oncology Data Specialist Certification (ODS-C) within 3 years of hire

Core Job Functions

Remains current on changes in regulatory data management to comply with state and national accrediting bodies, i.e., STORE , American College of Surgeons-Commission on Cancer, National Cancer Database, Georgia Cancer Registry

Participates in the acquisition of cancer information from diagnostic reports, treatment records and electronic records, both institutional and private practice-including follow up information, to complete the missing elements for a complete patient data records detailing the patient's complete cancer experience

Abstracts demographic, diagnostic, epidemiologic, treatment and survival information from inpatient and outpatient reports, records and electronic databases according to the abstracting timeliness as assigned by manager, i.e., within 48 hours from pathological resection report to within 4 months for complete account of treatment plan and activity.

Confirms patients have diagnoses meeting specific criteria for inclusion in the SJC Cancer Registry. Reviews pathology and radiology reports real time (i.e., as reports are released) and reviews disease index for discharges IP & OP

Reviews clinical cases with the Medical Director and prepares evidence based guidelines for cancer conference discussion and review.

Accurately selects the primary site code for the cancer and the morphology code for the disease; accurately stages the extent of the disease using the diagnostic clinical and pathological reports and stages according to the most recent AJCC staging manual and in accordance with the Commission on Cancer STORE manual.

Through team effort provides support to the committees. This includes data compilation, presentation, organization of conferences, compiling case presentation information and operating audiovisual equipment.