For those of you working in the cancer registry field, you were notified in December of 2017 by the National Cancer Registrars Association that the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, has created a new Standard Occupational Classification code for Medical Registrars.
This new classification may also benefit other medical registrar specialties such as trauma registries, cardiac registries or surgical care registries.
What are the benefits of having a Standard Occupational Classification?
According to the press release issued by NCRA, “The new detailed occupation code reflects the increased use of data to improve medical treatment and care and the critical role cancer registrars play in collecting the data. The new code will ensure that statistics on the cancer registry workforce will be more accurate, providing a clearer understanding of the current and future workforce needs; correct salary information will help recruit and retain qualified individuals; and skill-appropriate personnel will be hired to fill cancer registrar positions at both the central and hospital levels.”
NCRA further explained “Historically, cancer registrars have been grouped under a detailed occupation code entitled “Medical Records and Health Information Technicians”. The federal definition of this occupation did not accurately describe the complex roles and responsibilities of cancer registrars or other medical registrars.”
To read the full press release published by NCRA click here.
For more information about this new occupational classification, visit the Standard Occupational Classification website.
The main category that the new Medical Registrars classification falls under is:
- 29-0000 Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
The subcategory assignment is:
- 29-9000 Other Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations
The occupational code assignment is:
- 29-9020 Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
The occupational code subcategory assignment is:
- 29-9021 Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars
The occupational code description of Health Information Technologists and Medical Registrars is:
- Apply knowledge of healthcare and information systems to assist in the design, development, and continued modification and analysis of computerized healthcare systems. Abstract, collect, and analyze treatment and followup information of patients. May educate staff and assist in problem solving to promote the implementation of the healthcare information system. May design, develop, test, and implement databases with complete history, diagnosis, treatment, and health status to help monitor diseases. Excludes “Medical Records Specialists” (29-2072).
- Illustrative examples: Cancer Registrar , Health Informatics Specialist , Health Information Analyst
This is a very exciting time for those in the medical registry profession. The importance and significance of the work we are doing and the data we are collecting is being recognized by the federal government and our profession will be more accurately depicted in U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics reports moving forward. Hail to Medical Registrars!