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Community Corner

Burlington County College launches new Cancer Registry Management certificate program

Burlington County College’s (BCC) Health Information Technology Department is launching a Cancer Registry Management certificate program, which will be one of only seven programs in the United States accredited by the National Cancer Registrars Association.

 

The program was created to help meet the demand for cancer registrars, a profession that collects information on every cancer patient, his or her history, diagnosis, treatment and status. Health information professionals interested in learning more about a career in this growing field can attend free Cancer Registry Program Information Sessions on Tuesdays, Feb. 11 and April 8 at 4 p.m. in the Lewis M. Parker Center, located on the college’s Pemberton campus, in room 313.

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“Cancer registrars serve a vital role in helping physicians treat patients and researchers discover new therapies,” said Susan Scully, BCC’s Director of Health Information Technology. “Burlington County College’s new cancer registry program is one of the best ways in the country to achieve a rewarding career in this growing and in-demand field.”

According to the National Cancer Registrars Association, only 316 candidates took the Certified Tumor Registrar exam, which is the lowest number in more than a decade. However, there is a growing need for cancer data analysis, collection and monitoring due the advancements in medicine.

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“Cancer registrars are cancer information experts and data collectors. The published cancer-related statistics, including survival rates, which come out of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are a result of cancer registrars’ work,” said Fran DiLorenzo, BCC’s Coding Program Manager. “That data is more important than numbers, it improves lives for patients.”

BCC’s 25-credit certificate is geared toward professionals who have an associate degree and wish to obtain knowledge needed for the tumor registry exam. Most of the program will be offered online, except for the clinical courses.

In order to apply, prospective students must have an associate degree, a GPA of 2.5 or higher, and passed all of the following prerequisite courses with a “C” or better: medical terminology, anatomy and physiology I & II with labs, pathology and pharmacology.

Official transcripts showing the required courses must be submitted to the admissions department at BCC. Before being accepted into the program, students must also pass the Health Education Systems, Inc. Health Careers Aptitude Test and clear a criminal history background check by Adam Safeguard.

Applications for the Cancer Registry Management certificate program will be accepted until June 1 and can be obtained through BCC’s Health Information Department. For more information, please visit the website at www.bcc.edu/hit or call 609-894-9311, ext. 1711.

Students accepted into the program will be notified by July 1. Classes will begin on Sept. 3. The college also plans on offering offer an Associate of Applied Science in Cancer Registry Management in fall 2015, for those who need to fulfill the associate degree requirement.





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