Cancer Registry
By Shelly Smits, RHIT, CCS, CTR
The Cancer Registry is a component of the cancer program designed to
collect information and conduct follow-up for reportable cancer and benign
central nervous center tumors diagnosed and/or initially treated in the
county. The cancer registry is a vital tool for programmatic and
administrative planning and research and for monitoring patient outcomes.
Data are collected according to the current Commission on Cancer (COC) data
standards and coding instructions.
The St. Joseph Hospital Cancer Registry is continuing to grow with 1094
new malignancies or reportable benign central nervous system tumors
accessioned (187 of those being physician office cases). In October 2007,
the registry had documented follow-up rate with one-year currency of 95.1%
of analytic cases diagnosed 5 years ago, which exceeds the national standard
of 90% and a 94.4% follow-up rate for the whole registry since our reference
date (1/1/2000). The registry currently conducts follow-up activities on
approximately 7580 cases yearly.
The registry is collecting all cases diagnosed or treated within Whatcom
County. The Commission on Cancer does not require cases diagnosed outside
the hospital, but the Cancer Committee has requested they be collected.
The Registrar responded to sixteen special data requests from various
physician and hospital staff cancer-related care studies. Registry data is
also being used to help promote cancer screenings and awareness programs.
Our registry shares data with the Washington State Registry and the National
Cancer Data Base and continues to work closely with the Cancer Surveillance
System (CSS) at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.
The Registrar also supports the cancer program’s Tumor Board.
Approximately 80% of all cancer cases pathologically diagnosed in the
community are prospectively reviewed at this weekly conference. On average,
28 physicians from a broad range of specialties attend as well as
representatives from hospice, social services, pharmacy, dietary and
nursing.
For more information, contact
Shelly Smits,
Certified Tumor Registrar. Return
to St. Joseph Cancer Center home page
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