Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR)

• Cancer Registrars possess the clinical and technical knowledge and skills necessary to maintain components of the disease-related data collection systems consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, and legal and accreditation requirements of the health care delivery system.
• In all types of facilities, and in various locations within a facility, cancer registrars manage and analyze clinical cancer information for the purpose of processing, maintaining, compiling and reporting health information for: Research; Quality Management and Improvement; Facility Planning and Marketing; Long-Term Follow Up; Cancer Program Development; Cancer Prevention and Surveillance; Survival Data; Compliance with Reporting Standards; Evaluation of the Results of Treatment; and National Accreditation Standards.

Work Activities/Work Locations

• The primary responsibility of the cancer registrar is to ensure that timely, accurate, and complete data is incorporated and maintained on all types of cancer diagnosed and/or treated within an institution or other defined population.
• Cancer Registrars capture a complete summary of the patient’s disease from diagnosis through their lifetime. The information is not limited to the episodic information contained in the health care facility record. The summary or abstract is an ongoing account of the cancer patient’s history, diagnosis, treatment and current status.
• They participate in cancer program, institution, and community benefit activities as part of the active leadership structure.
• Registrars provide benchmarking services, monitor quality of care and clinical practice guidelines, assess patterns of care and referrals, and monitor adverse outcomes including mortality and co-morbidity.
• Cancer Registrars work in healthcare facilities such as hospitals, surgery centers, medical oncology and radiation oncology sites.
• They are also employed by Central registries, consulting firms and cancer registry computer software companies.