Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below. First area of consideration will be given to current, permanent employees of NIHCS.

Total Rewards of a Allied Health Professional
Duties include, but are not limited to:

• Thoroughly searches the medical record to identify and code all information pertinent to the patient's diagnosis (includes demographics, diagnosis, site and histology, diagnostic procedures, extent of disease, and treatment)
• Keeps abreast of new medical terminology and revisions to the above manuals.
• Utilizes coding references to ensure that complete and accurate data is collected.
• Codes information contained on several forms and documents that make up an entire record.
• Codes diseases, surgical procedures, and causes of injury (uses specific codes required in a cancer registry, stage of disease, morphology, and topography using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, AJCC Staging Manual and the ROADS Manual).
• Codes stages of disease using International Classification of Diseases for Oncology.
• Analyzes the consistency of coding of registry data, cancer diagnosis, histology, treatment (including surgical procedures, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation therapy.)
• Codes complicated medical records having diagnostic, surgical and therapeutic procedures that are identified as difficult to classify.
• Maintains a control system to ensure that all cases of cancer are coded in a timely manner by adhering to the Standards of the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer, Registry Operations and Data Standards and appropriate VA Regulations
• Reviews records to obtain data which is then entered into the registry software (The oncology data is available for analysis and used by health care staff for research, patient care, protocol studies, and trends in cancer).
• Submits data from the tumor registry in accordance with VA guidelines to the VA Central Cancer Registry.
• Collects core data from patients' records, including demographic characteristics, diagnostic procedures, diagnoses, stage and extent of disease.
• Reviews medical records to gather information on cancer statistics, including treatment, stage of disease, incidence, survival and numerous other criteria.
• Assists in research and preparing correspondence by retrieving and releasing data following a standardized approach which meets the requirements of the Privacy Act and Freedom of Information Act regulations.
• Organizes and maintains a data system which conforms to the standards of an Approved Cancer Program and meets the needs of the users of the registry data, if applicable. Maintains quality control of follow-up procedures.
• Performs the quantitative and qualitative analysis on medical records to ensure that all component parts are present, accurate, complete, timely and will meet the established requirements and standards of the Joint Commission and the American College of Surgeons.
• Participates in routine and focused reviews for the purpose of identifying problems and potential problems in record documentation as part of the formal Medical Record Review process under the direction of the Quality Improvement Program (may be assigned to gather information for time studies and/or quality assurance studies).
• Oversees Tumor Board coordination of meetings to include appropriate documentation in the electronic medical record (CPRS), ensuring documentation meets the requirements and standards set for by ACoS and/or facility standards.

Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
Compressed/Flexible:Not Available
Recruitment Incentive (Sign-on Bonus): Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (Relocation Assistance): Not Authorized
Pay: Competitive salary and regular salary increases
Paid Time Off: 37-50 days of annual paid time offer per year (13-26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year)
Parental Leave: After 12 months of employment, up to 12 weeks of paid parental leave in connection with the birth, adoption, or foster care placement of a child.
Child Care Subsidy: After 60 days of employment, full time employees with a total family income below $144,000 may be eligible for a childcare subsidy up to 25% of total eligible childcare costs for eligible children up to the monthly maximum of $416.66.
Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA
Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement)
Remote: This position is designated as remote. Remote work is defined as full-time employment conducted outside of a VA facility or in VA-leased spaces. The option for remote work will be assessed continuously, and the selected individual may need to return to a VA office if required. Applicants must live within 50 miles of one of our facilities as they may be subject to the RTO order.
Functional Statement #: 92640-0
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Conditions of employment

• You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job.
• Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued dentification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP).
• Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider:

• your performance and conduct;
• the needs and interests of the agency;
• whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and
• whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.

Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

Qualifications

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.

Physical Requirements. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service.

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 and /or Education

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). TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED OR

Experience/Education Combination. Equivalent combinations of experience and education are qualifying. TRANSCRIPTS REQUIRED The following educational/training substitutions are appropriate for combining education and experience:

• (a) Six months of experience that indicates knowledge of medical terminology and general understanding of the health record and one year above high school with a minimum of six semester hours of health information technology courses.
• (b) 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).Grandfathering Provision. All persons employed in VHA as a MRT (Cancer Registrar)] on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the title, series and grade held, including positive education that is part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Grade Determinations GS-0675-09:To qualify as a MRT (Cancer Registrar) Coordinator, GS-9 You must demonstrate one year of experience equivalent to the next lower grade level. This experience may include, but is not limited to; performing all tasks and duties autonomously. Search the medical record to identify and abstract/code all information. Organize and maintain the cancer registry data system. Review lifetime follow-up on patients including cancer status and vital status. Oversee tumor board documentation, ensuring documentation meets the requirements and standards set forth by ACoS and/or facility standards. Ascertain a random sampling of annual analytic case load for physician review to ensure quality registry data.

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities.

In addition to the experience above, the candidate must demonstrate all of the following KSAs: Creditable Experience. Knowledge of current medical record technology. To be creditable, your experience must have demonstrated the use of knowledge, skills, and abilities associated with current cancer registry practice and may be paid or non-paid employment.

Quality of Experience. Experience is only creditable if it is either directly related to the position to be filled or in a related field. Qualifying experience must also be equivalent to the next lower grade level. Experience satisfying this requirement must be active practice, which is paid/non-paid employment as a MRT (Cancer Registrar).

Part-Time Experience. Part-time experience as a professional MRT is creditable according to its relationship to the full-time workweek. For example, a MRT would receive one week of full-time credit for each two weeks of half-time work.

References: VA Handbook 5005/128, Part II, Appendix G35

Physical Requirements: Complies with all safety/fire prevention rules/regulations, using protective equipment when required and provided. Promptly reports all accidents and notifies supervisor of unsafe/unhealthful conditions in the workplace. Attends scheduled training sessions and participates in medical center/service level safety promotions as directed by the supervisor. Knows fire drill and emergency plans for work area, including location of all emergency fire equipment. The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required. There are no unusual physical demands.

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.

The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• Other (1)
• Other (2)
• Other (3)
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Next steps