There are several excellent articles on various types of registries. Many are printed in the Journal of American Health Information Management Association (Journal of AHIMA). Select a specific registry covered in this week’s reading. Discuss the purpose of the registry, the data that are collected, methods of case accession, methods of collecting data, uses of the data, external approval bodies, reporting of data to a state or national database, and any other requirements or interesting facts about the registry.
Case Accession and Data Collection Methods
Case accession is the process of identifying and adding new cancer cases to the registry. This is primarily done through a variety of sources:
Pathology reports: These are the most reliable source, as they provide a definitive cancer diagnosis.
Discharge summaries and physician's reports: These documents often contain key information about the diagnosis and treatment.
Radiation oncology and chemotherapy logs: These records help identify patients receiving cancer treatment.
Death certificates: These can reveal cases that were not previously reported, particularly when cancer is the cause of death.
Methods of collecting data involve certified registrars abstracting information from the patient's medical record. This is a meticulous process that requires attention to detail to ensure all relevant information is captured accurately and coded according to national standards.
Sample Answer
Purpose and Data Collection
The purpose of a cancer registry is to collect, store, and report data on all cancer cases within a specific geographic area or healthcare facility. This registry is a critical tool for public health officials, researchers, and healthcare providers. It provides a comprehensive picture of cancer incidence and survival rates, helping to track trends, identify high-risk populations, and evaluate the effectiveness of cancer prevention and treatment programs.
The data collected are extensive and standardized to ensure consistency. They typically include:
Patient demographics: Name, address, date of birth, race, ethnicity.
Tumor characteristics: Primary site, histology (cell type), stage at diagnosis (extent of disease), and grade (aggressiveness of cancer cells).
Treatment information: Dates and types of surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and other therapies.
Patient outcomes: Date of last contact, vital status (alive or deceased), and cause of death