Oncology Data Specialist

Requisition ID 2025-3847

Job Summary

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.

Primary Responsibilities

• 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

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.