Student Data Specialist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

This position reports to the Operations Administrator, Senior, and is responsible for work of considerable difficulty in coordinating, managing, and leading the program effort in establishing and maintaining statewide reporting from all mandated reporting facilities per regulation to ensure cancer case reporting. As part of the Operations Team, this position assists with implementing and evaluating a health program that collects information on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with cancer. The position interprets program regulations, policies, and procedures, coding handbook standards, and guidance documents. Provides program assistance and technical guidance to reporting entities, including hospitals, clinics, physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and pathology laboratories. Onboards, trains, and serves as a liaison for mandated reporting facilities that utilize web-based CDC products to increase and maintain electronic cancer reporting. Performs program evaluation and monitors program performance of reporting entities to ensure conformance with rules and regulations. Identifies internal and external education and training issues and consults with the Operations Administrator, Senior on findings. Processes, analyzes, evaluates, and monitors case reports and other documents submitted by all mandated reporters to ensure compliance with data submission standards and adherence to quality, format, data elements, timeliness, and completeness standards. Works independently on assigned facilities and as part of a review team for physical and electronic case reports. Develops, updates, and revises submission timetables, policies, and procedures that monitor the work of reporting facilities as part of the Operations Team. Assists with the development of best practices for processing, merging, and editing data. Performs special quality control studies/assessments; assists in the development of goals and objectives for assessing statewide data; assists in the development and implementation of operational procedures, program rules, and regulations; keeps abreast of national reporting standards and procedures that affect cancer reporting in Arizona; performs activities required of the federal grant; prepares and writes reports; is responsible for building partnerships with mandated entities. Additionally, this position may train and guide interns, support staff, and contractors. Required to travel statewide and to national conferences as necessary.

Responsibilities include:
Leads the internal effort of abstracting and analyzing physical and electronic medical case reports in the cancer data management system to summarize cancer case information. This includes demographics, cancer identification, stage of disease, treatment, and follow-up for non-hospital facilities (surgery centers, freestanding cancer clinics, pathology laboratories, and physician offices).
Processes, monitors, reviews, and evaluates physical and electronic case reports, critical data changes, and other documents submitted by hospitals and non-hospital facilities (clinics, physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and pathology laboratories) statewide to ensure compliance with data submission standards for quality, format, data elements, timeliness, and completeness. Creates reports to monitor data quality and shares findings with the Operations Administrator, Senior.
Manages a designated group of electronic non-hospital reporters that report via the CDC application Web Plus. Exports clinic data and imports it into the cancer data management system in a timely manner. Increases the percentage of electronic reporting facilities by onboarding facilities that report over 50 cancer cases annually. Serves as a liaison for Web Plus facilities, provides training and technical assistance, responds to questions, and perform monthly quality assurance reviews on data. Schedules meetings with facilities to discuss quality as needed. Uses Web Plus to send quality reports and quarterly critical data change reports to a designated list of hospitals.
Assists with the development and implementation of operational best practices of processing, merging, and editing data. Participates in quarterly quality assurance activities by reviewing and resolving cases identified on edit reports. Participates in yearly quality assurance activities by working on NPCR, NAACCR, Inter-Record, and Deduplication reports when preparing data for annual submission to the CDC. Assists with conducting quality assessments and studies to analyze the data submitted on an as-needed basis.
Provides training and guidance to interns, support staff, and contractors. Assists with initial trainings, conducts case tracking and demographic reviews, and implements quality assurance measures to ensure accuracy and consistency of data. Identifies continuing education needs of interns, support staff, and contractors based on quality assurance findings and management input.
Interprets and answers questions from mandated reporting entities to ensure conformance with cancer registry policies and procedures, statutes and regulations, and reporting and abstracting rules as set forth by the program (Arizona Cancer Registry) and by national standard setters. Performs research for inquiries and submits inquiries to national standard setters as necessary.
Prepares, writes, and submits reports that are required by management (e.g., administrative, statistical). Writes reports that contribute to the federal cooperative agreement progress reports and continuation applications in order to comply with federal requirements.
Attends monthly virtual standard setter trainings, quarterly internal trainings, and annual conferences related to cancer registry practices to stay informed and obtain continuing education credits. Occasional in-person trainings and conferences may be required.
Other duties as assigned as related to the position.

Knowledge of:
Statutes and agency rules, regulations, policies and procedures pertaining to cancer registration. Comprehensive knowledge of cancer registration standards as outlined in the following references: American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer data dictionary (e.g., STORE); Arizona Cancer Registry handbook; the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology; the SEER Program Manual (Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results Program); the SEER Summary Staging Manual; the American Joint Committee on Cancer Staging Manual; the Solid Tumor Rules related to the determination of primary tumor and histology; the SEER*Rx Interactive Antineoplastic Drug Database, and the Hematopoietic Database.
Human anatomy and physiology related to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Medical terminology related to the diagnosis, pathology, staging, and treatment of cancer.
Strategic planning, development, and implementation.
Report preparation and data presentation.
Principles of management and program planning, program evaluation, and grant processes.
Microsoft, Google, and Adobe products.
Cancer Registry products (RMCDS, Web Plus)
Performance Management (PM), and Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) and Lean methodologies.
Skilled in:
Interpersonal communication as applied to contacts with mandated reporters, stakeholders, and team members.
Oral and written communication.
Strong organizational abilities.
Project and program management.
Analyzing and evaluating technical and epidemiologic data.
Proficient computer and software skills (Microsoft products, Google Suite, and Adobe Acrobat).
Ability to:
Plan, organize and administer a health program.
Interpret and synthesize complex medical data.
Prioritize and organize multiple complex projects.
Complete tasks, and develop quality work products.
Set and achieve goals and objectives.
Make critical decisions.
Comprehend and interpret cancer statute and regulations.
Problem solve independently and with others.
Identify outcomes and performance measures.
Support a diverse multi-cultural workforce that reflects the community, promotes equal opportunity at all levels of public employment, and creates an inclusive work environment that enables all individuals to perform to their fullest potential free from discrimination.

ODS eligible (completion of an NCRA-Accredited Associate Degree Program/Practicum, NCRA-Accredited Certificate Program/Practicum, or completion of any Associate's degree with 6 credits in Anatomy & Physiology) with at least 3 years work experience in cancer registry, medical coding, health information management, project coordination and/or team management. Associates degree in Health Information Management, Health Information Technology or related field may substitute for 1 year experience. Credentialed ODS-C (Oncology Data Specialist - Certified) within 3 years of hire. Guidelines at http://www.ncra-usa.org

Driver's License

If this position requires driving or the use of a vehicle as an essential function of the job to conduct State business, then the following requirements apply: Driver's License Requirements.

All newly hired State employees are subject to and must successfully complete the Electronic Employment Eligibility Verification Program (E-Verify).

The State of Arizona provides an excellent comprehensive benefits package including:
Affordable medical and dental insurance plans
Paid vacation and sick time
Paid Parental Leave-Up to 12 weeks per year paid leave for newborn or newly-placed foster/adopted child (pilot program)
10 paid holidays per year
Wellness program and plans
Life insurance
Short/long-term disability insurance
Defined retirement plan
Award winning infant at work program
Credit union membership
Transit subsidy
ADHS Student Assistance Pilot Program

Learn more about the Paid Parental Leave program here. For a complete list of benefits provided by The State of Arizona, please visit our benefits page

To help you build a financially secure future, the State makes monthly contributions to finance your retirement benefit. The State will contribute to the ASRS in an amount equal to your contribution. In other words, you and the State will each pay 50% of total cost of the benefit. New State employees have a 27-week wait period for contributions to begin.

The State of Arizona is an Equal Opportunity/ Reasonable Accommodation Employer. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation such as a sign language interpreter or an alternative format by emailing steven.santiago@azdhs.gov. Requests should be made as early as possible to allow sufficient time to arrange the accommodation. DHS is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All newly hired employees will be subject to E-Verify Employment Eligibility Verification.