The American Cancer Society reports that in 2010 more than 1,500 people each

day will die of cancer. It is the second most common cause of death and

accounts for nearly 1 of every 4 deaths in the United States. Cancer

Registrars are the cancer data management experts that review the medical

records and code, classify and enter disease related data into highly

specialized databases used to study cancer treatment methods, outcomes and

survival.

Healthcare is rapidly evolving to take advantage of scientific and clinical

breakthroughs that enable physicians to diagnose and treat cancer patients

using the latest technology to deliver the best quality of life or achieve

the best possible outcomes. Cancer Registrars collaborate with the

healthcare team to make this possible. While cancer registrars are familiar

with changes in reporting standards and guidelines, in the year 2010 they

experienced an unprecedented degree of change necessary to keep pace with

targeted therapies, personalized and evidence-based medicine.

After review of the Obama-Biden Plan to Combat Cancer it is evident that the

cancer registrar will experience even more radical change in how they perform

their data collection and analysis duties to meet these national healthcare

goals. By looking at outcome measures linked to monetary rewards, physicians

and healthcare organizations will need to rely on the cancer registrar, more

than ever, to provide data to support compliance with best practice

standards.

Cancer Registrars are positioned in the allied health field to provide the

expertise, skill and clinical knowledge to perform data analysis and outcomes

studies. As physicians, cancer program directors and hospital administrators

become more comfortable with the cancer registry and the value they

contribute to the bottom line, the cancer registry profession will grow and

be recognized as a vital component to cancer healthcare and as the cancer

data management experts they have become.

Careers in cancer registry, as part of the Health Information Technology

industry, are already increasing in response to the demand for outcomes

related data. Individuals interested in this profession should immediately

seek the services of a cancer registry coach and mentor to help them discover

the lifelong opportunities for employment in this promising allied health

profession.

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