Oncology Data Specialist

Artemis ARC; United States; On-site; USD 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Aptive Resources is seeking Oncology Data Specialists (ODS-C) to support cancer registry operations within the VA Veterans Health Administration. The role involves casefinding, abstraction, data quality, and reporting using VA-approved software to ensure timely, accurate registry data.

Responsibilities include complete NAACCR data, AJCC staging, VA VACCR reporting, and ensuring compliance with NAACCR/SEER guidelines; 2+ years of ODS-C experience is required.

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 VA mandatory training and educational requirements by required deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Perform cancer casefinding, accessioning, and abstraction of oncology cases into VA registry software.
• Complete the full NAACCR data set, including VA-specific supplemental fields.
• Document and substantiate all coded data using detailed text fields for patient history, imaging, labs, and pathology.
• Assign AJCC TNM staging per current AJCC/SEER guidelines.
• Complete physician TNM staging fields during case ascertainment or completion.
• Submit periodic reports to the Oncology Data Lead using VA-approved trackers.
• Tracker reports must include FIN, Accession/Sequence Number, and other fields.
• Maintain confidentiality of patient records per Privacy Act and VA policies.

Skills

Cancer registry experience

Abstraction and staging

Education

ODS-C credential in good standing

Job description

2025-3847 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.

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.
• 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.
• 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

• 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.