Online Associate of Applied Science in Cancer Registry Management

Medical Terminology for the Health Professions

This course is designed to introduce the student to medical terminology, including roots, prefixes,and suffixes, with emphasis on spelling, definition and pronunciation. The course consists of the basic rules for interpreting, constructing,and spelling medical terminology. The course includes common terminology, definitions and pronunciations for prefixes, suffixes, general body terms, and body system terminology. Each bodysystem lesson includes terms for anatomy, pathology, pharmacology, radiology, procedures, and tests. Emphasis is upon learning word roots, prefixes and suffixes and how they are combined toform medical words.

Introduction to Anatomy and Physiology

Freshmen level course, 3 undergraduate credits. This course discusses the basic anatomy and physiology of the human body, basic current medical information on common clinical disorders encountered in the health field, the nomenclature used in describing anatomy, physiology, and disease of the human body, and the etymology of key terminology. This course is designed for students enrolled in programs of Emergency Medical Professions, Health Information Technology, Medical Assisting, and Human Services and Social Work. (Not for biology majors)

Foundations of Pharmacology

This course will introduce students to the names and uses of the major classes of drugs. The purpose of this course is to develop a foundation for health professionals on how drugs work, potential interaction, and risks and benefits of Rx drugs.

Human Disease

This course will provide students with an overviewof current medical information on common clinical disorders encountered in health care. Topics include principles of diseases of the various organ systems.

Healthcare Applications

This course covers health information systems and their design, implementation, and application. Topics include spreadsheets, databases, electronic health records, data integrity, data modeling, and warehousing to meet departmental needs. Data dictionaries, data sets and the exchange of health information will also be covered.

Introduction to Statistics

A one-semester comprehensive introduction to statistics suitable for students in biology, nursing, allied health, and applied science. Discussion of data, frequency distributions, graphical and numerical summaries, design of statistical studies, and probability as a basis for statistical inference and prediction. The concepts and practice of statistical inference including confidence intervals, one and two sample t-tests, chi-square tests, regression and analysis of variance, with attention to selecting the procedure(s) appropriate for the question and data structure, and interpreting and using the result. Prerequisite: at least 30 on the ALEKS Math test or 420 on the Math Placement Test (MPT) is recommended.

English Composition

English Composition 1001 is a writing-centered course that emphasizes the careful reading, analytical thinking, and persuasive strategies inherent in researching and writing within an academic community. Students learn that rhetorical knowledge is the basis of composing while learning to write with purpose, audience, context, and conventions in mind. Students develop rigorous academic research practices: how to locate and evaluate primary and secondary sources relevant to their line of inquiry and position their own ideas in conversation with public writing. Students also engage in regular self-reflection: articulating what they know, what they can do, and how to apply their knowledge and skills in various contexts.

Intermediate Composition

Intermediate Composition is a writing-centered course that builds on what students learn in first-year composition and focuses students’ attention on theoretical underpinning of how meaning is made, understood, and communicated within and across various discourse communities and genres. The course emphasizes critical reading and writing, advanced research and analysis skills, and rhetorical sensitivity to differences in academic, professional, and public composing. This course challenges students to engage in substantive projects drawing on primary research and source analysis methods and asks students to document, communicate, and reflect on their research.

Introduction to Health Information Systems

This foundational course provides an overview of health information management technology. Emphasis is placed on health information data structure, health record content, governance, access, use, disclosure, privacy, and security of health information. Management and standards for the exchange of health informatics concepts are explored. An examination of health law and compliance along with technologies used in health information are identified.

Cancer Registry Structure and Management

An introduction to the cancer registry and the cancer registrar profession. It will include the types of registries: central and hospital-based, legal and ethical standards, cancer registry management functions and operations.

Cancer Registry Operations

Introduction to disease registry files, principles of abstracting, data set identification, and case ascertainment. It will focus on the Commission on Cancer, Cancer Program Standards as well as the cancer committee, cancer conferences, and quality monitoring. Emphasis will be placed on standard-setting organizations.

Cancer Registry Disease Coding and Staging

An overview of oncology coding and staging systems (ICD-O-3, SSS2018, AJCC 8, SSDI Manual, STR Manual, Grade Coding Manual, and the Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Manual/DB) Focus on the oncology disease process, using principles from anatomy, physiology, and chemistry; coding clinical information from medical records; staging and extent of disease concepts used by physicians and cancer surveillance organizations; the rules used to determine the number of primaries

Oncology and Coding

An overview of the historical development of coding systems and staging schemas will be reviewed. This course focuses on recognized coding and staging systems including ICD-0-3 Classification of Diseases, the Solid Tumor Rules Manual, AJCC Staging, Grade Coding Manual, SSDI, SEER Summary Staging, STORE manual, and other recognized coding standards and principles and practices of use in abstracting cancer data from the clinical record. Overview of oncology treatment and coding.

Abstracting Methods I

Identification and selection of appropriate clinical information from medical records for capture on the abstract in a manner consistent with cancer registry regulatory core data requirements. Manual quality control edits of abstracted information to assure timeliness, completeness, and accuracy of data.

Follow-up, Data Quality, and Utilization

The focus of this course is to examine follow-up methodology and processes used to obtain follow-up cancer information regarding disease status, recurrence information, subsequent treatment, and development of subsequent primary cancers. The use of follow-up information within the cancer registry and healthcare organization is also reviewed.

Cancer Registry Data Analysis and Quality Assurance

Introduction to cancer statistics, internal and external reporting requirements, annual report preparation, use of comparative databases in data analysis, participation in special studies, presentation of cancer registry data, and usefulness of statistical cancer data in a healthcare organization.

Cancer Registry Practicum I

This is the first of two clinical practicum classes. This course is a practicum in cancer registry operations for hands-on experience in all aspects of registry organization and operation. Supervised clinical experience in performing NCRA-required cancer information management competencies in an actual registry and/or simulated virtual setting. Non paid.

Cancer Registry Practicum II

This is the continuation of Cancer Registry Practicum I. This course is a practicum in cancer registry operations for hands-on experience in all aspects of registry organization and operation. Supervised clinical experience in performing NCRA-required cancer information management competencies in an actual registry and/or simulated virtual setting. Non paid.

Abstracting Methods II

Application of the principles of cancer registry abstracting. Identification, selection, and recording of appropriate cancer-related information consistent with regulatory requirement. Manual quality control edits of abstracted information to assure timeliness, completeness and accuracy of data.