Oncology Data Specialist

DSHS is committed to hiring skilled and dedicated individuals who share a passion for public health to pursue our vision of A Healthy Texas. If you are looking to make an impact and tackle new challenges, we encourage you to consider a career with us.

Employee Benefits:

DSHS offers insurance coverage and other benefits available through the State of Texas Group Benefits Plan administered by the Employee Retirement System of Texas (ERS). To learn more about all the benefits available to you as a DSHS employee and other DSHS opportunities for early career pathways, visit the DSHS Careers Page.

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Job Description:

Performs highly complex technical work in the planning, monitoring and implementing of the quality assurance and record consolidation operations and cancer registration guidelines in the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR), Cancer Epidemiology and Surveillance (CES) Branch.   Work involves providing consultative and technical direction to the quality assurance and Registry Operations staff within the CES and performing necessary coordination with other programs in the CES, Department, federal agencies, other state agencies, local communities, and others, relating to the cancer registry. Performs record consolidation, resolves data quality discrepancies, resolved duplicates and assists with special data quality projects.   Works under limited  supervision from the  Quality Assurance (QA) Manager and Lead with moderate latitude for the use of initiative and independent judgment.   Oversees the updates and revisions to the record consolidation and TCR policy and procedures.

Essential Job Functions:

Attends work on a regular and predictable schedule in accordance with agency leave policy and performs other duties as assigned.

(35%)  Assists Quality Assurance Manager and QA Lead in coordinating and monitoring record consolidation activities and serves as subject matter expert.  Oversees and provides consultative and technical support to consolidation staff in resolving consolidation discrepancies.  Identifies and makes recommendations on procedural and programming changes necessary to ensure accurate record consolidation.  Reviews other consolidation staff’s work for quality, accuracy and completeness.  Assembles data in order to assess internal quality control needs. Oversees and evaluates the revisions and updates to the record consolidation procedure manual and data quality documentation reflecting procedural changes and global changes affecting the analytic file.  Reviews and edits quality assurance procedures and manuals.

(35%) Performs cancer record consolidation.  Uses highly technical knowledge in resolving consolidation discrepancies and in developing cancer record consolidation edit logic by researching multiple version of Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER), American College of Surgeons (ACoS) and North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR) cancer registration guidelines and standards.  Contacts reporting institutions by telephone and/or written correspondence for clarification of cancer reports.  
  
(20%)  Participates in quality assurance program activities of the CES.  Provides technical direction and support regarding quality assurance cancer registry operations and data analysis.  Monitors, researches, identifies, and uses highly technical knowledge in solving data discrepancies and recommends procedural changes for improvement. Assists monitoring and identifying national coding guideline changes to the CES quality control policy and procedure manual by keeping up-to-date on policies and procedures at the state and national level.  Duties include visual review of analytic records; identifying trends in aberrant data; applying cancer registry guidelines to resolve data discrepancies; review of cancer-related sites on the internet; monitor changes in SEER, ACoS, and NAACCR manuals; review of cancer-related publications; and identifying trends in reporting facilities procedures, using tumor registry software.  Additional duties will consist of casefinding, abstracting, coding, processing path lab records, resolving data quality queries, deduplicating and resolving edits and inter-record edits. 

(5%)    Assists in training consolidation staff.  Assists in reviewing TCR staff's work. Prepares administrative reports for the QA program.   Monitors and summarizes weekly activity and record consolidation reports and reports monthly on progress made toward objectives (accomplishments and/or deficits) and makes recommendations for improvement.

(5%) Performs other duties as assigned.  Other duties as assigned include but are not limited to actively participating and/or serving in a supporting role to meet the agency's obligations for disaster response and/or recovery or Continuity of Operations (COOP) activation.  Such participation may require an alternate shift pattern assignment and/or location.

Registrations, Licensure Requirements or Certifications:

Oncology Date Certified (ODS)

or

ODS eligible/ 2 semesters of human anatomy and physiology

or

NCRA Approved Cancer Data Management Program

Knowledge Skills Abilities:

Technical knowledge of cancer registration techniques and uses of cancer data. 
Knowledge of multiple versions of ICD-O, SEER, ACoS, NAACCR, and CESB cancer reporting handbook's cancer registration standards, coding, staging and treatment guidelines and schemas. 
Knowledge of oncology; anatomy; medical terminology; data collection and retrieval procedures and cancer registry edit criteria. 
Knowledge of maintaining confidential medical records and documentation. 
Technical knowledge of cancer record consolidation national and TCR guidelines. 
Skill in planning, organizing, developing, implementing and managing projects/activities. 
Skill in identifying, researching, and solving data problems. 
Skill in using personal computers and software packages (e.g. Word, Excel, and CESB Cancer Registry software). 
Skill in problem solving and interacting with others, including assuring cooperation of staff, medical providers and other cancer related organizations. 

Ability to monitor and identify data discrepancies and make suggestions for improvement. 
Ability to monitor and identify problems in coding. 
Ability to clearly express ideas and information and to effectively communicate, both orally and in written form. 
Ability to analyze and interpret coded

data.

Initial Screening Criteria:

I. Experience with medical terminology required.

II. Experience working in a Cancer Registry preferred.

Active Duty, Military, Reservists, Guardsmen, and Veterans:

Military occupation(s) that relate to the initial selection criteria and registration or licensure requirements for this position may include, but not limited to those listed in this posting. All active-duty military, reservists, guardsmen, and veterans are encouraged to apply if qualified for this position. For more information see the Texas State Auditor’s Military Crosswalk at https://hr.sao.texas.gov/CompensationSystem/JobDescriptions/.

ADA Accommodations:

In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), DSHS will provide reasonable accommodation during the hiring process for individuals with a qualifying disability. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the interview process, please notify the person who contacts you to schedule the interview. If you need assistance completing the on-line application, contact the HHS Employee Service Center at 1-888-894-4747 or via email at HHSServiceCenter.Applications@ngahrhosting.com.

Salary Information, Pre-employment Checks, and Work Eligibility:

• The salary offered will follow DSHS starting salary guidelines. Any employment offer is contingent upon available budgeted funds.
• Depending on the program area and position requirements, applicants selected for hire may be required to pass background and other due diligence checks.
• DSHS uses E-Verify. You must bring your I-9 documentation with you on your first day of work.  Download the I-9 form