Oncology Data Specialist

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. 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:

• 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.