OPPORTUNITY TO WORK WITH NCRA

Experienced central cancer registry professional with a current ODS credential in good standing with extensive knowledge and experience in Central Cancer Registry operations, data quality and annual submissions to NPCR.  

Overview of responsibilities include data submission related activities, data quality and analytic activities, and assistance in the development and production of plans for special projects and supports for products and programs set forth under NCRA’s cooperative agreement.  

For detailed information on this position and where to submit your resume for consideration click here. Deadline to apply is December 1, 2024. 

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2025 NCRA ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

In 2024, the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) has celebrated 50 years of empowering and advancing cancer registry professionals in the cancer surveillance community and beyond. As the year begins to close, NCRA presents a look at our history and heroes. At the link below, you will find a comprehensive timeline of the organization and its connection to the growth of the cancer registry profession. You can visit our 50 for 50 Heroes page and learn about the some of the incredible individuals who have shaped the organization! 

SUBMIT A COLLEAGUE OR YOURSELF BY JANUARY 31, 2025!

NCRA is proud to encourage cancer registry professionals to see excellence in the achievements and dedication of their peers and themselves through the NCRA Awards program. The Awards offer several options for recognizing outstanding contributions to the cancer registry profession and self nominations are accepted!

NCRA AWARDS CATEGORIES

Distinguished Member Award: Honors an NCRA member for outstanding contribution to the profession.

April Fritz Outstanding New Professional Award: Honors a new ODS credential holder for significant involvement in the profession.

Educational Achievement Award: Honors an NCRA member for significant contributions to cancer registry education.

Literary Award: Honors an NCRA member for preparation of important published material related to the cancer registry.

Volunteer Excellence Award: Honors an NCRA member for significant volunteer and/or mentoring contributions to the association.

REGISTER TODAY FOR THE 2025 NCRA ANNUAL EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE

The National Cancer Registrars Association will hold its 51st Annual Educational Conference, May 3 - 6, 2025, at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld®. The NCRA Annual Educational Conference is your opportunity to make magic!

The 2025 Conference gives attendees the opportunity to earn the 20+ CEs needed to maintain the ODS credential and AHIMA CEUs while learning from in-depth discussions from medical practitioners and subject matter experts. Returning events such as the Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall and the State Association Representatives Networking Luncheon are your ticket to new connections within the cancer registry community. Register today for the one conference that will meet your professional and credentialling needs!

CHUFAR 2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIP

The Danielle Chufar Memorial Scholarship provides financial support to attend NCRA’s Annual Educational Conference. Applicants complete the online application form and submit a 500- to 750-word essay on the 2025 topic.

The essay topic is: How do you envision the role of an ODS-credentialed cancer registrar changing over the next five to ten years? Paint a picture of the skills that the registrar-of-tomorrow will need to be successful. Make sure to include how you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) or other technical advancements will impact the profession. Please include two to three current job tasks or responsibilities that you think will change in the future.

The recipient will receive the conference registration fee to attend in-person; round-trip, coach airfare (up to the amount of $600); and hotel for three nights at the conference hotel. Download the fact sheet at the link below to learn more and access the online application.

2025 ANNUAL CONFERENCE JUSTIFICATION LETTER TEMPLATE

NCRA 2025 is the only annual national meeting organized by cancer registrars for cancer registrars. The Justification Letter Template, below, is designed to assist you to convey the importance of your attendance at NCRA 2025. The editable Justification Letter Template allows you to explain to your employer the benefits you’ll get from attending NCRA 2025 and how those benefits will improve your performance and help advance your organization. You may choose to view the educational program to specifically note sessions that you know are vital to your specific facility needs.

Download the template below!

READ NCRA'S JOURNAL OF REGISTRY MANAGEMENT (JRM)

The Journal of Registry Management (JRM) is the official journal of the National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA). This open access peer-reviewed journal publishes papers on topics related to the management of health registries and the collection, management and use of cancer, trauma, birth defects, HIV/AIDS, and other health registry data.

NEED A CE? TAKE THE JRM QUIZ!

Earn 1 CE credit for completing the JRM quiz based on the article, Evaluation of Melanoma and Bladder Cancers in New Hampshire to Identify Registrar Training Needs JRM quizzes are a cost-effective way to earn CE credits.

READ THE FALL 2024 CONNECTION

Every issue of The Connection features news related to the NCRA Board of Directors, Committees, Task Forces, Liaisons, Council on Certification, and the Executive Office as well as upcoming projects and opportunities that members cannot miss. 

HAVE YOU RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP YET?

NCRA membership is your gateway to the education, resources, and community of the cancer registry professional. When you renew, you continue to have access to all the benefits of membership:

·    This bi-monthly enewsletter, The Update

·    Access to industry news via the quarterly newsletter; The Connection

·    Discounted webinars at the Center for Cancer Registry Education

·    Connecting with mentors and colleagues

·    Voting privileges for NCRA leadership

·    and much more!

NCRA'S MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL SUBSCRIPTION IS BACK!

NCRA is again offering renewing members a continuing education subscription package to NCRA's Center for Cancer Registry Education (CCRE). Acquire up to 15 CE hours for $180!! 

Once you log in to renew your 2025 membership, select the option to add the subscription to your shopping cart.

Learn more by viewing the Subscription Product List and Fact Sheet. This subscription is the most cost-effective way to earn all the CEs needed to maintain your ODS credential and to keep up-to-date with changes in the cancer registry profession! The subscription runs from January 3, 2025, through December 31, 2025. It is a per-person subscription; there is no carry over into 2026. Offer ends December 31, 2024.  

SUBMIT TO THE JRM!



Do you have a study that you or a team member conducted using registry data, a successful quality improvement initiative, or any commentary or lesson learned from a Cancer Registry management perspective? 

If so, we welcome you to submit your article/manuscript for publication consideration. Your submissions offer you the opportunity to not only be published, but to also contribute to the cancer registry profession.

The JRM encourages authorship by registrars who are ODS-certified; special value is placed on manuscripts with ODS-certified professionals’ collaboration and publication of articles or documents related to the registry profession. 

Three (3) NCRA continuing education (CE) credits are awarded for published articles or documents, and additional information can be found here.

Learn more about submitting a paper at the link below!

RESUME REVIEW, INTERVIEW PREP, AND MORE: NEW SERVICES FROM NCRA'S JOB BANK

Job searching has always been a challenging process. These days, most recruiters now use resume scanning software as the first step to narrowing down a field of job applicants. How can job seekers today distinguish themselves and avoid being overlooked for ideal position? NCRA's Job Bank has new services ensure NCRA members to stand out in the crowd.

There's no better way to start than with a free resume review! This free review includes proofing, feedback on style and organization, and optimization for resume scanning software, also known as applicant tracking systems.

Ready to get serious and become an elite candidate? Learn more and take advantage of competitively priced packages that include:

Resume Writing Services

LinkedIn Profile Makeover

Interview Prep Sessions

Salary Negotiation Coaching

Check out these new services at Job Bank and get started with your free resume review today!

NCRA RELEASES NEW CANCER REGISTRY WORKLOAD AND STAFFING STUDY

NCRA’s Cancer Registrar Workload and Staffing Study: Guidelines for Hospital Cancer Registry Programs provides hospital cancer registries with national workload data to inform staff planning and budgeting. The study documents and quantifies the required tasks of hospital-based cancer registrars and serves as a tool for managers in advocating for adequate staffing and training. The study also explores the future needs and skills of the cancer registry workforce. The study was funded by NCRA and prepared by Laurie Hailer, MA, MEd; Jacqueline Miller, BA; and Susan A. Chapman, PhD, RN, from the University of California San Francisco. Go to www.ncra-usa.org/workload to access the press release, NCRA Executive Summary, Cancer Registrar Workload and Staffing Worksheet (Excel file), and the full UCSF Research Report. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NCRA DATA MANAGEMENT BADGE

The NCRA Data Management Badge is designed to increase understanding of cancer registry data and its use with a focus on ensuring data quality and highlighting critical aspects of data reporting. Developed and presented by Ronda Broome, MSHMI, MS, ODS-C, and Kelly Merriman, MPH, PhD, ODS-C, the eight modules address four core competencies: managing data, ensuring quality, reporting data, and promoting data. Assessments are required to earn up to four CEs; the cost for NCRA members is $66. Upon successful completion, you will receive a knowledge-based NCRA Data Management digital badge through Credly (https://info.credly.com/) to highlight your professional expertise on LinkedIn, social media profiles, and websites. 

NCRA'S ONLINE REVIEW GUIDE FOR CANCER REGISTRY MANAGEMENT TEXTBOOK AVAILABLE NOW

NCRA’s online Review Guide for the Cancer Registry Management Principles and Practice for Hospitals and Central Cancer Registries textbook includes review questions for each chapter to help gauge understanding of critical topics and concepts outlined in the chapter. Answers include rationales to assist student learning. This is a great resource for students using the textbook, and candidates preparing to take the ODS credentialing exam. This is an online product available through the Center for Cancer Registry Education. Member price: $30; non-member price: $50.

GET YOUR 50TH ANNIVERSARY MERCH TODAY IN THE NCRA STORE!

What's a 50th Anniversary without a little swag? You and your team will look fabulous with the new 50th Anniversary pin, celebrating our golden milestone, priced at $12 for members and non-members. And be sure to decorate your office, laptop, or drinkware with our 50th Anniversary sticker, priced at $5 for members and non-members.

ODS pins are also available in the NCRA Store, priced at $12 for NCRA Members, and $16 for Non-members. This is a fantastic gift for your whole team or a special treat for yourself; and they can be purchased in bundles of five, ten, and twenty.

BECOME A NCRA INDEPENDENT ADVISOR AND HELP STUDENTS

Become an NCRA Independent Advisor and work with students in the self-directed NCRA-AHIMA Cancer Registry Management Certificate Program. NCRA Independent Advisors share wisdom and knowledge gained through professional experience and provide guidance to students as they navigate NCRA’s online practicum activities and prepare for the practicum assessments. Advisors established through this program can earn CE credits to help maintain their ODS credential. 

MENTORS WANTED

The Mentoring Committee seeks to match mentors with mentees based on shared backgrounds, interests, and career goals. Mentees benefit from the knowledge and experience of their mentors to advance in the cancer registry field. Mentors established through the Hospital Registrar and/or Central Registry Mentoring Programs can earn Continuing Education (CE) credits to maintain their ODS credential.

NCRA's UPDATED POLICY STATEMENT ON DATA AUTOMATION, DATA INTEROPERABILITY AND THEIR PRESENCE IN CANCER DATA COLLECTION

Produced in collaboration with NCRA's Informatics Committee

The National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) recognizes the potential of health technology and envisions cancer registrars embracing data automation in the evolving landscape of cancer data collection. NCRA also recognizes the current pursuit of data interoperability with national efforts to improve health care with health information technology and health information exchange.

NCRA affirms that technological strides, especially automated abstraction through Electronic Health Record (EHR) software, must adhere to the strongest fidelity and predictability standards to be integrated into cancer registry software. As data curators, cancer registrars must embrace their evolving roles, from contributing as subject matter experts (SMEs) in EHR builds, to managing structured data. NCRA underscores the pivotal role of continuous education, which enables registrars to oversee data identification, data capture, and data management effectively. The profession's commitment to excellence serves as a benchmark for assessing new technologies and ensuring that health information advancements align with the accuracy and reliability integral to cancer data collection.  

Continue reading at the link below!

ODS FAQS UPDATED

NCRA is committed to providing the most comprehensive and useful information to members throughout this year's transition to the new credential name; ODS. Please be sure to read our newly released FAQ update as they clarify how to refer to ODS-certified professionals, your options for the use of the word 'certified', and more. Below, please find one of our most frequently asked questions.

Does my job title or position description need to be updated to reflect this transition?

Unless it contains references to “Certified Tumor Registrar” or “CTR”, no. Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) is the name of NCRA’s credential. Oncology Data Specialist (ODS) is not a job title nor a position description. NCRA will continue to use “cancer registrar” to describe members and the association. NCRA understands some employers have jobs titled “Certified Tumor Registrar” or “CTR” and those references will require updating. Direct your Human Resource Department to the Human Resources Toolkit at www.ncra-usa.org/ODSToolkit/Human-Resources for guidance. 

NCRA'S CONTINUING EDUCATION SEAL OF APPROVAL

Introducing: the NCRA Continuing Education Seal of Approval for digital and print marketing materials and communications. If approved, your program will have use of the seal (without the watermark shown above). This seal indicates NCRA’s recognition of high-quality programming for cancer registry professionals, an asset for any promotional campaign. 

All NCRA-Recognized programs are posted on NCRA’s website, helping to raise awareness of your event. Questions? ProgramRec@ncra-usa.org

Third-party organizations, academic institutions, and state associations can submit their cancer registry education programs to NCRA for recognition, a cost-effective way to offer CEs to members.

CANCER REGISTRY REFERENCES AND RESOURCES

NCRA Education Committee has created an Excel file of Cancer Registry References and Resources. It provides registrars with a convenient and searchable tool to access resources needed to perform complete and accurate reporting of cancer data. Members are encouraged to download the file. 

VISIT THE INFORMATICS WEBPAGE TODAY!

NCRA is happy to share its newly renovated web presence for Informatics at the link below! This section has been updated with resources for cancer registrars who are well versed in the subject and looking to learn more, as well as those who are unfamiliar with Informatics. Find Mini-Shorts produced by NCRA's Informatics Committee, Roundtables hosted at NCRA conferences, and much more!

REGISTRY BEST PRACTICE MINI-LEARNING SHORTS

View the newest Mini-Learning presentation on Working with Manuals: Breast Cancer Cases from the NCRA Education Committee. The updated session joins the collection of mini-learning presentations on the web page developed and presented by members of the NCRA Education Committee and Informatics Committee. The narrated presentations are intended to help the abstracting process become more efficient and accurate. Visit today at the link below!

HAVE YOU WATCHED THE PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE CODE OF ETHICS WEBINAR?

NCRA’s Ethics Committee is excited to release an informational webinar that guides members through NCRA’s code of ethics and highlights the importance of ethics in the cancer registry profession. This webinar showcases the effort NCRA’s Ethics Committee put towards their comprehensive overhaul of the code in 2023.

CHECK OUT THE CDC-NPCR SUCCESS STORIES QUIZZES

Compelling examples of how cancer registry data are used to improve public health are showcased in the CDC-NPCR’s annual Success Stories. Presented as posters, these stories highlight the innovative ways central cancer registries from across the country use data to help fight cancer. The posters have been organized into groups with a quiz for each group. Pass the quiz and earn complimentary CE credit. 

Making Every Cancer Count by Counting Every Cancer: Ensuring Data Completeness at the Cancer Data Registry of Idaho

When the registrars at the Cancer Data Registry of Idaho (CDRI) investigated unusual patterns in their data from Idaho hospitals, they discovered discrepancies. Listen in as ODS-certified cancer registrars from the CDRI discuss how their findings that some tumors reported by facilities were marked as included in the reporting when, in fact, they were not. As a result, the CDRI set up a program to work with Idaho hospitals to develop a process that improves complete reporting of tumors diagnosed or treated in Idaho.