creating a career track for cancer registrars. j. jackson-thompson, msph, phd missouri cancer...
TRANSCRIPT
Creating a Career Track for Cancer Registrars
Creating a Career Track for Cancer Registrars
J. Jackson-Thompson, MSPH, PhDMissouri Cancer Registry, University of Missouri, Columbia
http://mcr.umh.eduNCRA – April 2007
Missouri Cancer Registry
A collaborative partnership between the Missouri Department of Health & Senior Services (DHSS) and the University of Missouri - Columbia (MU)
Supported by a Cooperative Agreement between DHSS and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a Surveillance Contract between DHSS and MU
Acknowledgments
For their assistance: Sue Vest, BS, CTR, MCR Project
Manager Nancy Cole, BA, CTR, Asst. Project
Mgr Graphics: Sharon El-Shoubasi For their hard work and support of MCR: Cancer registrars and other
reporting facility staff
Objectives
Briefly describe the Missouri Cancer Registry (MCR);
Identify ways MCR deals with recruitment & retention, including developing a career track; and
Summarize keys to success.
MCR Gold Celebration 2005
Overview of MCR
History 1972 – voluntary data submissions 1984 – state mandate to report cancer 1995 – received NPCR funding 1999 – expanded law
Data 50,000 cases processed 28,000 + unduplicated cases annually
Central Registry Challenges
Meeting NPCR/NAACCR requirements Timeliness Completeness Accuracy
Internal challengesOutdated hardware & softwareNon-standard data elements & layoutNon-competitive salariesToo few staff
Meeting the Challenges
Increase NPCR funding Upgrade hardware & buy appropriate
software Hire more CTRs
Rewrite job specs to reflect responsibilities Obtain permission to hire at top of pay scale Make working for MCR desirable
Appoint Advisory Board Obtain case-sharing agreements
More Early Steps
Improve relationships with reporting facilities From “There’s a law - our way or the highway”to “Partners for better patient outcomes”
Provide service to reporting facilities Offer training for hospital registry staff Support hospital CTRs – talk to administrators
Develop a constituency
Meet the Challenges …
And what do you get?
More Challenges!
Good and Bad….
Additional CTR positions funded by NPCR No state merit FTEs available
Revise plan Strengthen existing external relationship Decrease state government – eliminate
FTEs Outsource Operations!
Overnight, MCR operations staff becameUniversity staff
Next Steps
Impact of outsourcing: Greater flexibility in creating and filling
positions More understanding of need to maintain
competitive salaries, retain staff Support from University HR
Obtained NAACCR certification Met most NPCR requirements
How?
Flexible schedules for staff Adjust hours to meet MCR staff needs Added benefit – improved service to reporting
facilities
Allow telecommuting, working off-site Find a good CTR, don’t let distance/circumstances bean issue
Set standards CTR or CTR-eligible to be cancer data coordinator If can’t find one, be creative – Health Program
Assistant
Other Avenues
Increase training opportunities Send all MCR staff to training of their choice Develop/improve training for hospital
registrars Career development
Pay professional association dues Encourage staff to take advantage of tuition
reimbursement Restructure operations to meet registry
& staff needs
Further Avenues
Promote from within Annual salary increases Encourage staff to:
Reach for the stars/achieve their dreams Submit abstracts to NAACCR/make
presentations Get involved in research proposals
Build a winning team
New Challenges
Change from exempt to hourly for CTRs Hospital pay scales again outstripping
MCR pay scales HR Misperception – MCR wanted to
increase salaries to “steal” registrars from University hospitals
Solutions
Create new 3-tiered career track for central registry staff!!! Recognize differences in duties between
hospital and central registry staff Improve mechanisms to “grow our own” Acknowledge levels of expertise needed for
different positions Provide growth opportunities for current
staff
Career Tracks
Central Registry Data Specialist Trainee CTR-eligible New CTR/new central registry CTR
Central Registry Data Coordinator CTR w/no supervisory duties
Central Registry Senior Data Coordinator Unit coordinators
Where are we now?
Success Stories HIM student Mother and daughter Health Program Assistant (Central
Registry Data Specialist)
Keys to Success
Patience – success doesn’t come overnight Strategic planning Flexibility Teamwork Hire the best qualified staff you can find
Don’t be afraid to leave a position vacant or terminate an employee
Know your staff, believe in your staff and try to meet their needs Competitive salaries/flexible hours Create career tracks
Be supportive
Contact Information
Jeannette Jackson-Thompson, MSPH, PhDOperations Director, Missouri Cancer Registry andResearch Assistant Professor, Health Management
& Informatics, University of Missouri-ColumbiaPhone: 573-882-7775
Toll-free for reporting facilities: 1-800-392-2829E-mail: [email protected]
MCR website: http://mcr.umh.edu MCR website: http://mcr.umh.edu
Probably do not need all the pictures especially if you are short on time
Maybe just say you wanted to show the pictures but did not have time