Cancer Learning - Data Manager PD

If you are new to cancer data management and don't have a clinical background, you will probably want to start with activities that will provide you with some fundamental information about cancer, its diagnosis and treatment; the basics of clinical coding, medical terminology and patho-physiology; as well as the rationale behind data collection.

Tips from Cancer Data Management professionals

Am I Interested?

People are able to move into cancer data management from a wide range of backgrounds and with broad work experience and skill levels, as much of the specific cancer and coding training is likely to happen on the job. Many have an administrative, project management or IT background; others follow a path from a variety of clinical areas including nursing, allied health, science- or laboratory-based roles; university graduates can enter after completing a health management or information technology course; and some begin their career straight after completing high school. A career in the field of cancer data management may be for you if:

you are interested in a role where you work in a team on long-term projects to build a repository of data that will inform future health policies and improve health outcomes;
you like the challenge of investigating cases, interpreting pathology reports and compiling clinical information to classify and code tumours appropriately;
you are able to link and analyse information in order to identify and report trends and patterns;
you have the ability to build relationships with a wide variety of key stakeholders;
you enjoy a work environment where skills for accuracy, aptitude and diligence are highly valued.

Working as a clinical nurse consultant, I became very interested in standardising data collection in order to produce meaningful information, and I worked on projects making recommendations about what data should be collected and looking at reporting information of specific sub-groups of patients." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"I had my children first and then decided to work on my career when they were older. I didn't have a clinical background or statistics background- I started right from the word go learning patho-physiology and coding." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"You need to have a certain passion to be part of the cancer domain. A good understanding of what is it that professionals working in cancer are trying to achieve and how a cancer data manager can help in the overall aim of curing cancer should be a good starting point for entering this challenging and exciting field of health." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"It is not necessary to have a health informatics background - it depends on the job but in my experience, many people come after graduating from high school or after their first degree at university, or people who have previously worked in statistics or in biology. You can come from a very wide background of experience and training because most of the job is taught at work, on the job." (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

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Explore different settings

Cancer data managers practice in a variety of settings and work for a wide range of employers. If you are interested in following this career path, talking to people who work in the industry about their experiences can help you decide which area you would like to explore. You may be able to arrange some work experience, trial short term work, or meet informally with staff from registries, government agencies and consumer organisations to find out if this is the right career for you.

"The only way to get a feel for the role is to do it for a while - on the job training is the only real training currently available. Having some coding know-how is useful and understanding the rules around coding is useful, but most of that stuff we learn as we go." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"You should attempt to develop a career pathway that provides for a variety of work situations including hospitals, cancer research organisations and registries to broaden your experience." (Vicky, Cancer Control Information Manager, VIC)

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Inform yourself

There are various guidelines, reports, articles and manuals that you can access to familiarise yourself with the concepts involved in cancer data management in Australia, and the Australian health system in general. Ask colleagues what sources of information they have found helpful. Some good introductory information includes:

A National Cancer Data Strategy for Australia 2008
http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-data/national-cancer-data-strategy
Australian Data Set Specification - Cancer
http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442457904
Cancer Statistics: Everything you wanted to know about the cancer registry data but were too afraid to ask
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1445-1433.2004.03163.x/pdf
SEER Cancer Medical Terminology
http://training.seer.cancer.gov/terminology/word/

"You need to have an understanding of it all. Even though ICD-03 is the standardized coding information for cancer across the world - I have "the purple book" which is what we call the manual, with me all the time. But they go from different editions - they moved from ICD-01 to 02 and now 03, and different countries have different time frames to move to the next version; so sometimes, when you move to new coding, you have to review the old coding if there has been an issue with it. And sometimes, even though it should be uniform, different countries may have different groupings or different classification for cancer - they have different ideas about what kind of histology should be grouped together." (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

"You need to have a good understanding of patho-physiology and be aware of the reasons for collecting cancer data; you need to know what reports you will need to write and what they mean." (Sally, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"In data collection it is really important to have a good understanding of what the data collection is trying to achieve and to understand the tools that you are using quite well, and it is very important to understand the data that you are looking at and the context - what different phrases mean and which forms should be used and the different things that they record." (Debra, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"If you are willing to get into this coding system, there are a lot of people and positions who value that. But in cancer, other than the basic coding pathway, there is no way to learn it other than in the workplace, through experience. And it is very specific - I don't know much about coding other diseases - because of time factors, we have even stopped coding causes of death from non cancer causes - we just give them a generic "not a cancer death" code. Whereas the ones we do code the cause of death for, we look at the death certificate and make sure the correct code is used. It's too big for anyone to know all about it. So really, someone with a general coding background would know more than they needed to know about all diseases, but not necessarily everything they need to know about cance." (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

For more resources, see Online resources and guides, below.

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Fundamentals in Oncology

If you are considering working in a cancer data management, you will benefit from some general training in the basics of cancer and cancer care, which will assist you to build your cancer-related knowledge and understanding of coding concepts and practices, for example:

Medical terminology
Cancer treatment pathways
Clinical coding
Cancer staging

"My medical background is most useful when it comes to reviewing the pathology reports, making coding decisions that are difficult to make, having the authority to make inquiries of doctors and hospitals and write requests for further information - all of these are roles that in a bigger registry in a bigger state would be separate, but here I do most of it. " (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

"You need a good understanding of medical terminology and the basics of cancer treatment pathways, sound understanding of medical ethics & privacy issues, good computer skills including some experience with different database software, good attention to detail and a willingness to learn." (Vicky, Cancer Control Information Manager, VIC)

"In Australia at the moment, a HIMAA course is probably the best way to go. There is a medical terminology course first that students must pass before they go onto the coding - coding isn't just putting numbers into a program. You really have to know the patho-physiology of the body and you really need that sort of knowledge." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"It isn't just the terminology, you need a really good knowledge of anatomy and a good understanding of physiology - then you can start to understand the disease process too." (Elaine, Registrar and Manager, SA)

For a list of cancer care courses, see Cancer Specific Courses, below.

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Broaden your general skills

Depending on your background, where you work and your specific role in cancer data management, most people entering this area will require specialised training regarding cancer coding (in ICD-03), medical terminology, anatomy, pathophysiology histology and morphology. However, cancer data managers also require a wide range of general knowledge and abilities to support them, as these roles not only demand accurate data entry and developed IT skills, but also require high analytical and logistical aptitude, the ability to understand and interpret the data and excellent interpersonal and communication to build relationships and provide customer service in a timely and sensitive manner.

Some areas you may like to explore:

computer/IT skills
organisational and time management skills
communication and negotiation skills
project management skills

"Every registry needs people who are good with general things. Ideally, you need someone who has the potential facility for understanding medical terminology but also has a very good grasp of English and the equivalence of names in different cultures; they need the ability to make good decisions regarding linkages between different bits of information because the computer will bring up the most likely matches and you have to be able to decide whether it is a match or not. They need to be able to familiarize themselves with other resources that we use to help us, search as searching the electoral roll to see if postal addresses match even if names or spelling don't - there are so many duplicate people on the system that are a mess to sort out. And a lot of it is about forming relationships. You have to have excellent communication skills, particularly over the telephone because you often get phoned by people who are wondering what they are getting into - they might not know what we do and what we have done so you have to be very sensitive to people who call about their own health condition or that of a relative. There is no formal course that teaches someone to be good at that sort of thing, to show initiative and have a flair for managing the demographic side of things." (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

"I think essential skills include information management and information technology knowledge and understanding of information systems and database architecture; an overview of fields such as computer networking, analytical softwares such as SPSS, Excel, XML, SQL, other relational database systems and operating systems; reasonable statistical know-how, and strong Medical and Cancer terminology. A general overview of hospital management and financial knowledge often helps as the role involves liaising with hospital stakeholders, vendors and administrators during various projects and implementations." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"I am basically self taught, I've spent hours of my own time sitting and working on a computer to learn how the different systems work." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

For examples of available courses, see General non-clinical skills, below.

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Find a mentor

A mentor is a colleague who can provide you with individual advice, feedback and support. Mentors can be a great source of knowledge, encouragement and inspiration. Mentors can help you develop your career, as well as answer clinical and service-related questions that you may be dealing with. Mentors can be data managers or other health professionals working in cancer care.Many organisations have formal mentoring programs. If you are having difficulties finding a mentor, try contacting relevant interest groups or organisations. Your colleagues are also a wealth of information and experience - don't be afraid to ask questions! More information about this is available on Cancer Learning at Finding a Mentor

"I am the senior information manager of this team that comprises professionals from both HIM and Information technology related fields. The team is designed to meet the information needs of the cancer network and manages the cancer network's registry project deliverables. I am responsible for the daily operations of this team but we are all professionals and respect each other for our unique experiences and the expertise we bring to this team." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"There is so much on the job training, especially when you have a good group who fire off each other. My coders keep asking each other things all day long. I have a fantastic team who I know will always help me get the job done and meet any deadline that we are set- even when unexpected things come up." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"Almost all of my work colleagues and bosses have been my mentors in some way or the other. I tend to learn form their good characteristics and try and incorporate them in how I behave and deal with issues both personally and professionally." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"When people leave or retire, it can be difficult to find someone to take over who has the skills needed, so succession planning and on the job training at the cancer registry should be promoted. In Canada, we used a model of apprenticeship, so that younger people would link with senior staff so they could learn their job and the day to day operations. You really need a mentoring approach. It creates a good environment and people can work together for a long time - it becomes like a family" (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

"I was able to contact and have also met April Fritz, who is the principal author of the ICD-03 and based in the US. I found her incredibly inspiring and a fantastic teacher" (Elaine, Registrar and Manager, SA)

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Taking the next step

Once you have a general understanding of cancer data management and coding, the next step is to build detailed, specialised knowledge. This may involve attending courses and conferences, undertaking self-directed learning, getting involved in professional networks and groups, and pursuing opportunities within or outside your workplace.

Tips from Cancer Data Management professionals

Networks and groups

Involvement in local, state-based, national or international networks or special interest groups can be a valuable source of information, ongoing learning and support. For example, you could join the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Epidemiology special interest group; the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR); and the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA). Attending the groups meetings and seminars can give you an insight current issues and processes and provide the opportunity to meet other people working in cancer data management roles.

"There are state level and national working groups that you can contact if you have problems with coding or classification or staging information- they will make a decision and document it." (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

"I am a current member of the Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) and have remained member of External Advisory committee Health Information Management Faculty, University of Sydney and the Australian Health and Research Data Managers Association, Sydney which help me keep aligned with my professional peers." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"Presenting and discussing issues with others who are involved - like at the COSA Epidemiology Group - can be a great way to workshop ideas, get support and solve problems." (Sally, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"There are people we can go to for advice. If we don't know how to code something, we'll ring someone in the central registry or in our local health information department. If it's about uncertainty to do with the diagnosis, we will generally contact the clinician who is looking after the case. You develop networks from within and they are different for every AHS - they have different resource bases - some specialty groups are resourced better than others, so it varies a lot as to who to contact for information." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"National cancer conferences & meetings allow interaction with other Australian cancer registry staff." (Vicky, Cancer Control Information Manager, VIC)

For a list of networks, see Organisations and groups, below.

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Stay up to date

Cancer coding is an area that changes frequently. It is important to stay informed and involved to remain up to date with developments in the area. Seek and take advantage of opportunities as they arise. Ask questions. Read articles. Subscribe to email newsletters. Join online forums.

"I think it is really important to have an awareness and a culture that professional development and continuing to learn is as important as anything, it goes hand in hand with all forms of data management. We need to know about advances in epidemiology and how they find things to see if we can do things better. That is how we eventually find cures for things- having data that we can work with. It is so important." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"I am a subscriber to various sites related to data management that keep me abreast with the latest on global and home information management issues. Information management, especially electronic information management, is still in its infancy in health so a candidate has to be pretty proactive in keeping abreast with the latest breakthroughs and trends in the industry. This can be turned into a bit of an advantage. For as an active professional in this field, you always have a sense of achievement in breaking new grounds in information management and providing expertise to the rest of the health industry." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

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Attend workshops, conferences and short courses

Attending workshops and seminars can give you an insight into current topics and new processes and provide the opportunity to meet other people in data roles. Attendance at relevant state-based, national or international conferences can be helpful for building both knowledge and networks. Events may be available through a range of avenues including professional groups and societies, local institutions and commercial groups. Ask colleagues about talks being given in your local area.

"I attend the annual COSA conference which is a good way to stay up to date with cancer specific issues and to network." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"Attending courses and seminars help me in updating and networking with my colleagues and peers." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"I have completed lots of short courses along the way. I went to the USA and attended the Principles and Practice of Cancer Registration, Surveillance and Control intensive course- that was great, though I was reasonably advanced myself by the time I did the course. It certainly helped me more with the clinical side, it helped me with staging and gave me more idea of what is involved in collection beyond population based data." (Elaine, Registrar and Manager, SA)

"I did all the courses offered by HIMAA and now I am an accredited and certified coder, and I also did several courses offered by the health department in WA. I used to be an exam marker for the external students HIMAA." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"Although there is no specific career path for working in cancer registries in Australia, the coder pathway is a good start because it gets people used to medical terminology and classification rules and systems." (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

"In the cancer registry, there is a lot of work that requires very experienced staff - data management, data coding, disease classification. It isn't simple - 1 isn't always equal to 1 and A doesn't always link to B. You really have to understand the pathology report, you have to understand the diagnosis. There are a lot of positions that require many years training and experience and networking with others is a good way to gain this kind of knowledge." (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

For a list of courses, see Courses and workshops, below.

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Gain postgraduate qualifications

At present there are no specific postgraduate qualifications available in Australia for data managers specialising in cancer. However relevant postgraduate qualifications, such as a graduate certificate or diploma in a related specialist area, can be a valuable way to help you in your career progression.

I would recommend the Master of Public Health course - it's a great education in many aspects of health, including epidemiology, biostatistics and the big picture of health at the individual and population level and its students come from a wide variety of professions and countries." (Sally, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"You can choose to go the statistical path or the data management path - I think within the registry there are several different streams that you can explore - if you're happy being a coder you can progress in that, or if you want to go further into the data management or statistical side, there are also many opportunities. Lots of people think that everyone is just coding and entering data, but there are so many different roles." (Elaine, Registrar and Manager, SA)

"I would at some stage want to refresh my financial management skills. The course we had in university has helped me understand the basics but I would like to attend some courses that have more emphasis from a current health economics perspective. I would also like to attain formal training or degree in statistics as I think it will further enhance what I have been doing in my current role as information manager and analyst." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"Some young people who come into the job and are interested in it want to study something new - very often they want to study epidemiology or biostatistics, so instead of data collection, they want to move into analysis. Others who enjoy coding may want to make their role more interesting by getting training in classification, or something like a new initiative we have, in cancer staging which is when they classify the spread of disease at the time of diagnosis, which is something that the cancer registries in Australia find important, which really helps you to evaluate the outcomes. And I think that organisations should encourage people to do this training and help them find opportunities." (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

For a list of qualifications, see Postgraduate qualifications, below.

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Undertake self-directed learning in your area of interest

A range of sources of information are available including websites, journals, textbooks, interactive CD-ROMs and online modules. Whatever path you decide on, it is important to be proactive, seek professional development opportunities and be creative in approaches to your learning. Ask others what they have found helpful, look for opportunities outside your own organisation and learn from the people who inspire you so you can consolidate what you have already learned and develop in other areas that interest you.

"I've learned either by reading staging manuals or asking questions or discussing it with my mentor, but it has been pretty much self-driven." (Debra, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"When I started, I took any opportunities that were available to me, whatever it was and wherever it was, just to try to build my knowledge. I am very motivated, and if I want to do something I will do it to the nth degree. When I first started, there was lots and lots and lots of reading, but now the internet helps with this, it's all at your finger tips." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"I tend to keep in touch with some trusted web sites that impart the latest knowledge about clinical data management and the latest oncology information system research papers that have been published. The websites hosted by the Department of Health, Cancer Institute and the Area Health Service intranet are always a good way to keep in touch with the latest in Cancer and the health industry. You can also often find useful presentations and speeches delivered by well-known experts in health management, medicine and community services." (Shoma, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

"During my Masters degree and when I worked in the UK, I kept doing as much study as I could to continually improve myself. I took courses in statistical modeling, exposure measurements and I kept studying while I was learning from my work experience." (Yiqun, Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW)

For a list of cancer care courses, see Self-directed learning, below.

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Think about your own self-care

While rewarding, working in cancer care can also be challenging emotionally and psychologically. An important aspect of training for clinical trials professionals working in cancer care is self-care and there are many strategies you can use to help you deal with the emotional and psychological stress of working in cancer care and to help avoid burn-out.

"Sometimes it is difficult to keep the bigger picture in mind, especially in the current economic and political climate - with these kinds of projects, you don't see the benefits for many years, so it can feel like a lot of hard work for not much gain for the first 3 or 4 years." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"The job is not for everyone. It can sometimes feel a bit tedious." (Sally, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

For more information on self-care, click here for Work/life balance

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Advanced practice

If you are experienced in cancer data management and are considering moving into an advanced role, your professional development needs will be more specific. You may also want to extend yourself and become a leader in your area. Becoming involved in advising and consulting, developing policy, managing projects and steering committees, and publishing and presenting research can help build your expertise.

Tips from Cancer Data Management professionals

Advance the technology

Data management is still quite a new area and the technology is continually developing. You can use your knowledge and experience to determine the direction of cancer data management in the future by developing and improving the technology and protocols.

"I assisted in the development of the cancer electronic medical records program that we hope will roll out in NSW Health across the state - not only designing and building it but also testing the system and now providing training and ongoing support to users." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

"Most of my training was self directed - I just got put into the area, I already knew how to use computers and I could do statistics, but I got interested in the coding so I learned a lot about that, and over the years, I have helped to define and refine it." (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

"In a clinical cancer registry, the information we collect is complementary to that collected by a central cancer registry, and includes creation of outpatient chemotherapy treatment records for the first time. Because of the volume of work, we aim to use electronic data sources: Health Information Exchange, online pathology, radiology, clinic letters and scheduling systems, pharmacy databases, etc. This has required development of professional links with clinical units and other agencies and an information culture within the AHS. I've developed and written most of the reports out of the Registry to support quality improvement and service planning and have tried to help enhance quality, completeness, accuracy and timeliness of cancer information across the Area." (Sally, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

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Give presentations or get involved in organising relevant state-based or national conferences

Opportunities may present in other ways, such as presentations or research. Giving presentations at national and international conferences can help you learn while also sharing knowledge with others. Being involved in the organising committees for conferences can also be rewarding and help you develop new networks.

"I have presented at several data management conferences and opened one of the NCCH conferences in my role as President of the Clinical Coders Society of Australia." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"I have given a presentation at a COSA conference, proposing a national training and registration program." (Elaine, Registrar and Manager, SA)

"I published seven papers in the peer-reviewed literature and gave 14 oral presentations while a PhD student, and attended AACR meeting in Melbourne and presented posters at 2 COSA meetings in my current job." (Sally, Senior Cancer Information Manager, NSW)

For a list of events, see Conference and event listings, below.

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Develop leadership and mentoring skills

As you take on more senior roles you may need to develop additional non-clinical skills in management or leadership skills that will help you in your role. You might like to consider courses in management, human resources, conflict resolution or communication and negotiation skills. Or you may like to become the trainer, sharing your experience, knowledge and skills by mentoring those who are starting their careers in cancer data management.

"My professional development activities usually are to do with research and development, and leadership training." (Anthony, Research Scientist, NSW)

"The WA registry has evolved with me, and now, I and a couple of other people working in registries who have an interest in this now get asked by NCCH and other coding people for advice and opinions on how we should code something." (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

"In 1987, I was approached by the hospital to see if I was interested in learning coding, it was a new area and not many people knew about it. I thought it sounded like a challenge and I'd give it a go, so I went to the health department and got trained. There were no Australian coding standards in those days like we have today, we have quite a few hundred now that we have to abide by; but back then people didn't have much interest in the data. It has been interesting watching the area develop and the importance of data become recognised. After this, I would run Master Classes on behalf of the Clinical Coders Society of Australia at Curtin University In early 2000s when there was a lot of money for coder education because it became apparent that they needed to gather good baseline data, so they needed the coders to be highly educated." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"Most of our training is in-house and I am responsible for this. In the last 12 months I have redeveloped our manual and I have found the SEER website to be very useful and helpful. I have a Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment. Recently I trained 2 new people - we had a training database available on their computers. I basically used the SEER training website and adapted it all to our state and went through it all, site by site and explained all of our local rules. It was a six week process to go through everything and both staff members are now both coding and working in the Cancer Registry. It wasn't too formal. We had a training room with PC's and I would just do some talking and show them sites, provide exercises and copy off old pathology reports. We would work out the primary site and morphology, discuss the local rules, discuss how it should be coded and then enter the case on a training database." (Elaine, Registrar and Manager, SA)

For a list of courses, see General, non-clinical skills, below.

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Join committees

In addition to joining a society or organisation, you may find it valuable to join a state-based or national committee as a way of strengthening your links, sharing your experiences to improve the industry and learning about committee working and processes.

"I am a Member of the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries and current Chair of their Coding and Reporting Committee." (Vicky, Cancer Control Information Manager, VIC)

"I was on the NCCH Coder Workforce Panel and Professional Panel at WA health department as a mentor, giving advice to new coders, educating them. I'm also the President of the Clinical Coding Society of Australia - I always look for opportunities - both where I can help and where I can learn." (Joan, Clinical Coder, WA)

"I am on the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries, which is currently an informal, but potentially is going to be formalised, group of representatives from registries across the country who meet to make collaborative decisions about projects that we'll all get behind, about how we'll code certain cases - It is an association that provides a forum for us all to bounce ideas off each other and move towards common goals and standards." (Tim, Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, WA)

"The project managers of the clinical cancer registry project still meet monthly to discuss issues and the next steps. The project is still developing - the next, big step is to amalgamate the clinical and central cancer registries to stop duplication of data collection. Area Clinical Cancer Registry staff would like just to focus on collecting details of staging, treatments, and quality of care indicators etc rather than going back and verifying the case again and reconfirming the diagnostic details." (Neil, Cancer Information Program Manager, NSW)

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Case studies

Find out what cancer data managers do, what they enjoy about their work, and how they have built their careers in cancer care:

Shoma Barat is the Senior Cancer Information Manager for the Sydney West Area Health Service

Role	Senior Cancer Information Manager, Sydney West Area Health Service involved in piloting the Clinical Cancer Registry system that is funded by the Cancer Institute NSW, responsible for the daily operations of the team and the project deliverables.
Areas of interest and achievements	Pioneered Upper Gastro-intestinal Group multidisciplinary care meetings. Breaking new grounds in electronic information management and providing expertise to the rest of the health industry. Interest in financial management and statistics
Pathway	Graduated in science with majors in Microbiology and a Graduate Diploma in Analytical Chemistry. Graduated with Masters of Health Information Management with a thesis in 2005. Data manager for the Upper Gastro-intestinal Group at RPA in 1998, becoming multidisciplinary team coordinator. Moved to Westmead Hospital in late 1999 working in the medical oncology department as data manager designing databases for in-house research projects, maintaining the departmental database, and responsible for annual reporting and publishing, monthly reporting and KPI analyses, sitting in committees relating to information technology and management and developing and implementing new information systems. Project manager at Westmead Hospital to implement digital systems for clinical correspondence and conduct a computer renewal project as part of an overall systems upgrade. In 2006, became Senior Information Manager of a team overseeing and piloting the new Clinical Cancer Registry that was sponsored by the Cancer Institute NSW, an Area based project and that was part of a consortium of five other Area Health Services statewide.
Training and courses	Master in Health Information Management- University of Sydney Graduate diploma in Health Information Management- University of Sydney Certificate in Medical Laboratory Technology - Bombay University, India Diploma in Analytical Chemistry - SNDT University, India Bachelor of Science (Microbiology) - Bombay University, India
Groups and networks	Member of: Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) Australian Health and Research Data Managers Association, Sydney External Advisory committee health Information Management Faculty, University of Sydney
What helps?	Regularly accessing trusted web sites for latest knowledge on clinical data management in general and the latest oncology information system research papers that have been published. Attending courses and seminars to stay up to date and to network with colleagues and peers. A general overview of hospital management and financial knowledge often helps as the role involves liaising with hospital stakeholders, vendors and administrators during various projects and implementations. A passion to be part of the Cancer domain. A good understanding of what professionals working in cancer are trying to achieve and how a cancer data manager can help in the overall aim of curing cancer. Teamwork - working with other professionals who respect each other for the unique experiences and expertise they bring to the team.

Dr Yiqun Chen is Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW Central Cancer Registry

Role	Director, Cancer Information and Registries Division, NSW Central Cancer Registry, one of the 5 divisions within the Cancer Institute NSW, with program rights to a population based cancer registry, a clinical cancer registry, an hereditary cancer registry and also units for data analysis and reporting, and cancer epidemiology. She also has people working on cancer data with the Area Health Services and in hospitals.
Areas of interest and achievements	International experience working on projects in UK and China. Interest in publication of research regarding surveillance of occupational diseases. Interest in seeing Australian registry system develop to a standard as can be found in North America, where registry systems are linked with electronic medical records; and data is seen to be an integral part of cancer care. Would like to see systematic training for registry staff at state registries to develop a trained workforce capable of capturing the data as detailed in Cancer Australia's data strategy.
Pathway	Trained as a medical doctor in China Studied Master degree in Occupational Medicine in UK with a thesis looking at occupational disease surveillance in cancer. Worked in occupational disease surveillance mainly in data collection, reporting and research for 11 years. In 2005, promoted to Manager of Cancer Surveillance in a province in Canada, developing a team of more than 10 analysts for surveillance; a survey unit who conducted telephone interviews and questionnaires; managing the cancer care outcomes department and overseeing a project to capture all information in downloadable electronic medical records. Opportunity arose in 2008 to come to Australia as Director of the Cancer Institute NSW Cancer registry.
Training and courses	After studying medicine and doing a Masters, took courses in statistical modeling and exposure measurements. Learned ICD-10 coding to assist with classifying various diseases. PhD in Epidemiology.
Groups and networks	Has published many papers on epidemiology and presented at international conferences. Is also a member of: Australasia Association of Cancer Registries (AACR) International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR)
What helps?	Most of the training is on the job but you can learn from your work experience and continue to educate yourself as you progress. Experiencing other data collection systems and practices, such as in China, UK and Canada, to provide perspective and develop Australian system. Attention to detail, a personality that enjoys working in a close knit team in a continually changing environment with a view to longer term rewards. Succession planning and apprenticeship/mentorship by senior staff of new staff so that valuable knowledge and skills are not lost. Encouraging staff to explore and develop their interests.

Neil Heron is the Cancer Information Program Manager for the Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS)

Role	Cancer Information Program Manager for the Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service (NSCCAHS), managing all the information technology components for cancer within the Area. The role commenced as part of the NSW Clinical Cancer Registry pilot project and was subsequently expanded as a part of the continuing program.
Areas of interest and achievements	Previously held Ward Manager, Clinical Nurse Consultant and Lung Cancer Care Coordinator positions Strong technical skills and interest in developing data management technology, assisting in the development (including designing, building, testing, training and ongoing support) of the cancer electronic medical record. Interest in developing an accredited training course in Australia for cancer data managers.
Pathway	Hospital trained nurse, working in multiple roles in a number of different hospitals. Commenced in cancer care as Ward Manager in early 1980's, developing a specialisation in respiratory medicine and working for over 15 years with patients including lung cancer patients in mixed medical/surgery ward. Appointed Clinical Nurse Consultant at Concord Hospital and then at Westmead Hospital where an interest in the standardisation of data collection developed through involvement in projects looking at reporting information regarding specific sub-groups of patients. Received NSW Health "Chronic and Complex Care" funding in late 1990's to establish an ambulatory care program for patients with Chronic Lung Disease in Western Sydney and furthering his interest in data management and project work by collecting a large patient dataset and reporting outcomes. Appointed Project Manager of the Northern Sydney and Central Coast Area Health Service pilot Clinical Cancer Registry project, collecting clinical, diagnostic and treatment information about cancer patients in the Area and reporting this at Area and State level. Appointed Cancer Information Program Manager when pilot project was incorporated as a continuing program in the Health Service.
Training and courses	Nursing qualifications including Graduate Diploma in Clinical Nursing Predominantly self-taught information technology systems through self directed learning. Cancer coding training through Cancer Institute NSW, in conjunction with NCCH.
Groups and networks	Attends Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Annual Scientific Meeting Meets with clinical cancer registry project managers of other Area Health Services on a monthly basis.
What helps?	On the job training, to get a feel for the role. Discussing issues with colleagues and seeking advice if you come across something you don't know to build your knowledge. Communication skills and the ability to develop relationships. Ability to analyse the data to produce reports that are meaningful and useful to clinicians. Self directed learning - read whatever you can. Keeping the bigger picture in mind - you often don't see the benefits these kinds of projects for many years, so it can feel like a lot of hard work for not much gain for the first few years. Development of a training program specific to the Australian cancer context.

Elaine Morton is Registrar and Manager, South Australian Cancer Registry

Role	Registrar and Manager of the South Australian Cancer Registry.
Areas of interest and achievements	Special interest in training and developing new members of the cancer data community and has adapted and developed various training resources to facilitate this. Interest in developing the Australian cancer registry system and training the data workforce in order to capture all necessary data, including clinical and staging information.
Pathway	Initially an enrolled nurse but was always mixed with administration work, where an interest in data and its importance developed. Started in the SA Registry as a trainee coder when registry was in its infancy and has progressed to the position of registrar.
Training and courses	Enrolled nursing qualifications. Certificate IV in Information Technology. Certificate IV in Workplace Training and Assessment. Statistics via Open Learning Australia. Many short courses including the highly regarded Cancer Registry Principles and Practice course in the United States.
Groups and networks	Member of: Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR) Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA), attending and presenting at their meetings and conferences.
What helps?	Mentors - has worked with and been taught by David Roder and April Fritz who have provided inspiration. In-house training courses to keep staff up to date with developments in the area. A strong knowledge of anatomy and a good understanding of physiology so you can understand the disease process. Would be wonderful to develop a national training registration to certify cancer data managers, and to standardize the data that is collected across jurisdictions.

Dr Anthony Nguyen is Research Scientist and Project Leader for the Cancer Information Processing and Reporting (CIPAR) project at Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO.

Role	Research Scientist and Project Leader for the Cancer Information Processing and Reporting (CIPAR) project at the Australian e-Health Research Centre, CSIRO. The project involves the research and development of health informatics technologies to support systems for cancer management. By automating the collation, analysis, summarization and classification of relevant medical reports, the reliance on expert clinical staff can be lessened, improving the efficiency and availability of cancer information.
Areas of interest and achievements	Published in peer reviewed journals and refereed conferences and workshops. Reviewer of several high quality journals and conferences. Research interests in multimedia processing and mining, information retrieval, ontology use, pattern recognition and machine learning.
Pathway	B.Eng. (Aerospace Avionics) degree with first class honours in 1999. Ph.D. degree in image processing in 2005 from Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane, Australia. During his Ph.D., he was involved with the Speech, Audio, Image and Video Technologies Research Program at QUT, working on various applied research contracts for clients such as DSTO, Office of Naval Research, and Boeing Australia. Since completing his PhD, he has worked as a Post Doctoral Fellow for the CRC for Construction Innovation within the Faculty of IT at QUT. Joined The Australian e-Health Research Centre in April 2006 as a Post Doctoral Fellow and later as a Research Scientist from July 2008 in the area of health informatics, conducting research in the Cancer Information Processing and Reporting (CIPAR) project (and formerly the Cancer Stage Interpretation System (CSIS) project).
Training and courses	In cancer, mainly self directed learning via journals and conferences, textbooks, and online resources. Expert advice from our partners at Queensland Health (e.g. lung pathologists, thoracic physician, and staff at Queensland Cancer Control Analysis Team for our lung cancer staging work), Cancer Australia and other state-based cancer registries. Future work will involve experts in other cancer domains such as breast and colorectal.
Groups and networks	Attend and present at relevant conferences such as the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting, Health Informatics Conference and the American Medical Informatics Annual Symposium CSIRO Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA) Committee member, IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society - QLD chapter
What helps?	Access to clinical and domain experts are a key factor - without them we wouldn't know how or where to apply health informatics technologies. Self directed learning and staying up to date with the latest information. Interest in developing technologies that will assist the collection of, and enhance the accuracy of, cancer data. Interest in developing technologies that will assist the collection of, and enhance the accuracy of, cancer data.

Dr Sally Smith is Senior Cancer Information Manager in a Clinical Cancer Registry, based in the Cancer Services Dept at RNSH

Role	Senior Cancer Information Manager in a Clinical Cancer Registry, based in the Cancer Services Dept at RNSH, with a team of 5 spread across NSCCAHS who are responsible for recording diagnosis, staging, treatment and quality of care data for all cancer patients at all public hospitals in the Area (about 5,000 patients per year).
Areas of interest and achievements	Developed professional links with clinical units and other agencies to create an information culture within the AHS. Interest in gastroenterology, neurosurgery and morbidity and mortality, having pioneered the data management of neurosurgery in the Northern Sydney metropolitan district. Interest in seeing an accredited course for data managers developed that certifies them to enter information in patient electronic medical records.
Pathway	First jobs were as a biochemist in the Gastroenterology lab at RPAH and the paediatric biochemistry lab at POWH. In 1982 she set up a database in the Neurosurgery Department at RNSH, then Dalcross and North Shore Private Hospitals, which she ran part-time for 20 years, and managed monthly Morbidity and Mortality meetings for the neurosurgeons. During this time she completed her postgraduate degrees. Also, throughout this time she was part-time practice manager for a busy academic surgeon, which gave her more insight into the "cancer journey". Soon after finishing her PhD, her current job was advertised which seemed the natural job for me.
Training and courses	B.Sc (Sydney University), majoring in biochemistry and pharmacology. Completed courses in MS Excel, Word, SPSS and MS Access to enhance computing skills. In 1999, Master Public Health with an Honours treatise on the relationship between DVT and PE and neurosurgical diagnoses and procedures recorded in the databases. Awarded an Andrew Olle Scholarship in 2002 to do a PhD on the surgical epidemiology of the brain tumour cases in the neurosurgery databases.
Groups and networks	During PhD, published 7 papers in the peer-reviewed literature and gave 14 oral presentations; attended AACR meeting in Melbourne and presented posters at 2 COSA meetings in my current job. Also member of: Cancer Institute NSW neuro-oncology group COSA epidemiology group COSA neuro-oncology group Sydney Neuro-oncology group
What helps?	Linkages with other clinical areas to facilitate the sharing of information. Accuracy and a good understanding of patho-physiology. Awareness of the reasons for collecting cancer data - i.e. what reports you will write and what they mean. Joining groups and networking, attending conferences. Quality improvement -she has developed and written most of the reports out of the Registry to support quality improvement and service planning and have tried to help enhance quality, completeness, accuracy and timeliness of cancer information across the Area.

Dr Tim Threfall is Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar, Western Australian Cancer Registry

Role	Chief Medical Officer, Director and Registrar of the Western Australian Cancer Registry
Areas of interest and achievements	Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Population Health, University of Western Australia Interest in cancer epidemiology research and health outcomes for indigenous Australians Auditor of New Zealand cancer registry system
Pathway	Medical training working in a public teaching hospital Spent 3.5 half years working as a General Practitioner in the Aboriginal medical service, providing exposure to what were largely public health based problems and developing his interest in the public health. Undertook traineeship with the WA Health Department, spending 3 years in the Community Physicians Training program, followed by several short term positions. Originally offered a seat in the WA cancer registry for 3 months but the position was expanded to the Chief Medical Officer role when the potential for the developments he could bring to the registry was realised, leading and developing the registry and the team since then.
Training and courses	Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery Master of Public Health Community Physicians Training program traineeship
Groups and networks	Member of: WA Representative of Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AACR) AACR Coding and Reporting Committee Australasian Epidemiological Association International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) voting member Department of Health WA Human Research Ethics Committee Clinical Oncological Society of Australia (COSA)
What helps?	Attending AACR meetings, an association that provides a forum for Registry Directors to bounce ideas off each other to move towards common goals and standards. Working with a high quality team who are obsessively thorough and almost terrier like in chasing down information, but also committed to the customer service side of the role. Gaining an international perspective of cancer data collection. Having a medical background, both to make clinical decisions as well as the authority and credibility it provides. Research and publishing findings to demonstrate the practical use of data. Continuing to look forward to improve data collection and technology.

Vicky Thursfield is Cancer Control Information Manager and I work within the Cancer Epidemiology Centre (CEC) of the Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) in Melbourne

Role	Cancer Control Information Manager and I work within the Cancer Epidemiology Centre (CEC) of the Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) in Melbourne, in a varied role that includes responsibility for dissemination of cancer statistics, coordination of state-wide patterns of care survey and the Victorian Cancer Registry (VCR) database development and Quality Assurance program.
Areas of interest and achievements	Widely published co-author of high quality journal articles on many aspects of cancer, demonstrating the practical application of stringent data collection including cancer survival rates. Interest in quality assurance of data, conducting regular audits and managing interactive database edits to improve the quality of data. Provides cancer information and data to a wide variety of sources including clinicians, hospital planners, government departments, the media, students & researchers, CCV fundraising and communications teams, the general public other programs: eg SunSmart, QUIT, PapScreen.
Pathway	Worked as a statistician in a diabetes research institute in the UK prior to moving to Australia. Took a 12 month position working in the in VCR, the state's population-based cancer registry which has collected data on every cancer diagnosed in Victoria since 1982, working on augmenting and completing the registry's dataset for melanoma. Became a clinical coder in the registry for 2 years, gradually moving more into the statistics and reporting side of registry, progressing throughout her 19 year career to manager.
Training and courses	Bachelor of Science in Mathematics & Statistics (Swansea, Wales) and Graduate Diploma in Applied Statistics (Oxford, England). Some training courses in various software but predominantly self-taught or taught by interaction with colleagues 'on the job'. Great deal of reading and online learning, acquiring skills in many aspects of databases, statistical, graphics & publishing software, knowledge of cancers & their pathology. Professional development and experience in statistics, desktop publishing, clinical coding, project management, data management and quality assurance, professional writing and presenting of material at conferences/meetings.
Groups and networks	Member of: Member of the Australasian Association of Cancer Registries (AARC) and current Chair of their Coding and Reporting Committee Victorian Cooperative Oncology Groups
What helps?	Previous coding experience provides a really good understanding of where the data comes from and how it is derived. A supportive work environment and close friends/colleagues who encourage you to extend yourself. Utilising opportunities for self directed learning to acquire general skills and to develop your knowledge of cancer. Networking with other Australian cancer registry staff. A sound understanding of and appreciation for medical ethics & privacy issues. Computer skills and experience with different database software. Good attention to detail and a willingness to learn.

Australian

COSA (Clinical Oncology Society of Australia) Annual Scientific Meeting
http://www.cosa.org.au/asm.html

Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) Conference
http://www.himaa.org.au/Calendar.html

Australasian Epidemiological Association Annual Meeting
http://www.aea.asn.au/events

Australasian Health and Research Data Manager's Association (AHRDMA) Conference
http://www.ahrdma.com.au/?page=events

Records Management Association of Australasia Events
http://members.rmaa.com.au/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=RMAA/ccms.r?CalendarCmd=Search

Health Informatics Society of Australia (HISA) Events
http://www.hisa.org.au/event

International

International Association of Cancer Registries Conference
http://www.iacr.com.fr/

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries(NAACCR) Annual Conference
http://www.naaccr.org/EducationandTraining/AnnualConference.aspx

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) Annual Conference
http://www.ncra-usa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3282

United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR) Conference
http://www.ukacr.org/

Health Informatics New Zealand Conference
http://www.hinz.org.nz/page/conference

American Medical Informatics Association Calendar
http://www.amia.org/meetings-and-events/calendar

International Congress on Medical Informatics Conference
http://medinfo2010.org/?page=home

Australian

Australasian Association of Cancer Registries http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer-aacr/

New South Wales Central Cancer Registry http://www.cancerinstitute.org.au/data-and-statistics/cancer-registries/nsw-central-cancer-registry

NSW & ACT Hereditary Cancer Registry http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/editorial.asp?pageid=645

Victorian Cancer Registry http://www.cancervic.org.au/about-our-research/registry-statistics

Victorian Family Cancer Register http://www.cancervic.org.au/how-we-can-help/for-health-professionals/family_cancer_service/fami-can-reg

Queensland Cancer Registry http://www.cancerqld.org.au/research/qcr/qld_cancerReg.asp

Western Australian Cancer Registry http://www.health.wa.gov.au/wacr/

South Australian Cancer Registry http://www.dh.sa.gov.au/pehs/branches/branch-cancer-registry.htm

Tasmanian Cancer Registry http://www.menzies.utas.edu.au/cancer_reg.html

ACRF Tasmanian Inherited Cancer Centre http://www.menzies.utas.edu.au/cancer_reg.html

Australian Capital Territory Cancer Registry http://www.aihw.gov.au/act-cancer-registry/

Northern Territory Cancer Registry http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer-aacr/

New Zealand Cancer Registry http://www.nzhis.govt.nz/moh.nsf/pagesns/64

Australian

Australasian Association of Cancer Registries http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/aacr/

COSA Epidemiology Group http://www.cosa.org.au/groups/epidemiology.html

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Cancer and Screening Unit http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/

National Cancer Statistics Clearing House http://www.aihw.gov.au/national-cancer-statistics-clearing-house/

Health Information Management Association of Australia (HIMAA) http://www.himaa.org.au/

National Centre for Classification in Health (NCCH) http://sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/ncch/index.shtml

Health Informatics Society of Australia http://www.hisa.org.au/

Australasian Epidemiological Association http://www.aea.asn.au/

Clinical Coders' Society of Australia http://ccsofa.org.au/

Records and Information Management Professionals Australasia http://www.rimpa.com.au/

Australasian Health & Research Data Managers Association http://www.ahrdma.com.au/?page=home

Australian Health Informatics Education Council http://www.ahiec.org.au/

Peter Mac Health Information Services http://www.petermac.org/HealthInformationServices?searchTerms[]=records

Biostatistical Support Service for the Sydney Cancer Centre http://www.sydneycancer.com.au/Pages/Research/Clinical_trials/Biostatistical_support_service.aspx

National Centre for Health Information Research and Training (NCHIRT) http://www.nchirt.qut.edu.au/

Australian e-Health Research Centre http://aehrc.com/

For links to government cancer agencies, departments and organizations; state and territory cancer government departments and registries; cancer consumer and community-funded cancer organizations; and cancer professional organisations, see: http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-data

International

International Association of Cancer Registries (IACR) http://www.iacr.com.fr/

National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/

Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program http://seer.cancer.gov/

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, Inc. (NAACCR, Inc.) http://www.naaccr.org/

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) http://www.ncra-usa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=1

Oxford Cancer Intelligence Unit http://www.ociu.nhs.uk/

World Health Organisation International Classification of Diseases (ICD) http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/en/

United Kingdom Association of Cancer Registries (UKACR) http://www.ukacr.org/

International Federation of Health Information Management Associations (IFHIMA) http://www.ifhima.org/

American Health Information Management Association http://www.ahima.org/about/

European Network of Cancer Registries http://www.encr.com.fr/

Association for Clinical Data Management (ACDM) http://www.acdm.org.uk/

Postgraduate Qualifications

Depending on your area of interest, you may like to diversify you skills and specialize in a particular area of cancer data. You can explore courses in a relevant area including public health, epidemiology health information management, health informatics, information technology, clinical data management, database management, applied science, biostatistics, medical physics, clinical coding, nursing, allied health, anatomy, pathology, statistics, and project management.

Many Australian universities offer post graduate qualifications including graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, masters and higher degree research courses in these areas. You can search for courses and further information regarding admission and enrolment at the following sites:

The Good Uni Guide http://www.gooduniguide.com.au/
Australian Government University site http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/
Courses.com.au http://www.courses.com.au/tertiary.php
Australian University site http://www.australia-university.com.au/

Vocational and Short Courses

Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council VET Course Certificate /Diploma in Population Health https://www.cshisc.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=86&Itemid=169
Population Health is concerned with understanding the health and disease in communities and providing timely data that supports the development of health strategies to improve health and well-being for all community members. These vocational qualifications may create opportunities in the future for career pathways in this industry sector.
Free manual download: http://www.ntis.gov.au/Default.aspx?/trainingpackage/HLT07/qualification/HLT42307/rules

Further information: http://www.csh-itab.com.au/navnsw/htp_ph_pophealth.html

OTEN - Medical Administration course: http://www.oten.edu.au/oten/core/showpage.htm?pg=ccindex&courseid=9759
This course covers basic medical terminology with the option to study other units of competency related to medical administration.

HIMAA Courses

Professional credentialing: http://himaa2.org.au/education/?q=node/139 - The HIMAA Professional Credentialling Scheme is designed to promote the professional development of HIMAA members and provide employers with evidence that HIMAA members have maintained currency in their profession.
HIMAA medical terminology course: http://himaa2.org.au/education/?q=node/139
HIMAA clinical coding certificate: http://himaa2.org.au/education/?q=node/139
HIMAA Professional Development: http://himaa2.org.au/education/?q=node/139 - The PDP is designed to assist HIMAA members in extending their professional, managerial and technical competencies.

Train the Trainer and Introductory ICD-10 Coding 2011 http://www.nchirt.qut.edu.au/educationandtraining/upcomingcourses.jsp

Australian College of Health Informatics http://www.achi.org.au/

Cancer Council of Australia http://www.cancer.org.au/AboutUs/OurMembers.htm - The Cancer Councils in each state and territory often run workshops, seminars and short courses on a range of cancer topics.

La Trobe Health Information Management Short Courses http://www.latrobe.edu.au/courses/health-information-management/short-courses - The Health Information Management Program conducts short courses from time to time as professional development for people with a prior qualification in either health information management or clinical coding. Courses include Clinical Coding Auditing Short Course and ICD-10-AM Coding Refresher Course.

Other cancer-specific courses

Cancer Learning
An online professional development website designed specifically for medical and allied health care practitioners working in cancer care to enhance their skills to ensure optimal patient care.
http://www.cancerlearning.gov.au/

EdCaN learning resources
The EdCaN resources provide highly flexible and accessible education designed to support the professional development of all nurses and allied health professionals working in cancer care regardless of experience or setting.
http://www.cancerlearning.gov.au/build/edcan_learning_resources.php

eviQ Cancer Treatments Online
Accurate, current, relevant, and evidence based protocols and information about clinical cancer treatments.
http://www.eviq.org.au/

Education Program in Cancer Care (EPICC) an initiative of Cancer Australia
An online cancer education and resource program, designed for non-cancer specialist medical practitioners. Eligible users may earn CPD points.
http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/health-professionals/general-practice-and-cancer-care/education-program-cancer-care

Basic Sciences in Oncology
The Basic Sciences in Oncology Course supports current best practice and identifies core skills and competencies in oncology. Basic sciences of oncology and associated disciplines are linked to clinical practice.
http://www.ceti.nsw.gov.au/oncology-training/w1/i1003574/

International Atomic Energy Agency Applied Sciences of Oncology Course Version 3
Developed by the CCORE (Collaboration for Cancer Outcomes Research & Evaluation) of the South Western Sydney Area Health Service, this distance learning material contains 8 topics and 80 modules covering radiobiology, physics, oncology anatomy, palliation, chemotherapy, communication skills and molecular bioogy. The full course can be downloaded for free from IAEA website and burned to 2 CDs.
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Training/Aso/register.html

American Joint Committee on Cancer 'Cancer Staging Resources'
Staging is the process of determining how much cancer there is in the body and where it is located that describes the extent or severity of an individual's cancer based on the extent of the original (primary) tumor and the extent of spread in the body, assisting clinicians to plan treatment and determine a prognosis.

Resources include:

Staging Moments - a tumour specific series of succinct, case-based presentations featuring: symptom presentation; imaging work-up; and pathology diagnosis, targeting difficult and common staging scenarios and clarifying the finer points of staging;
AJCC TNM Schema Slide Library - a downloadable slide library consisting of site-specific material covering a variety of tumors including the site-specific TNM, stage grouping, and pertinent survival data.

http://www.cancerstaging.org/staging/index.html

National Cancer Institute 'Understanding Cancer Series'
Graphic-rich tutorials regarding various cancer issues for educational use. Each tutorial is available in PDF and PowerPoint formats.
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics

MacMillan Cancer Support
UK website providing general cancer information, including causes and screening.
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Aboutcancer/Whatiscancer.aspx

Australian

HIMAA Distance Education Courses and Workshops
http://himaa2.org.au/education/?q=node/139

International

Principles of Oncology for Cancer Registry Professionals workshop
http://www.afritz.org/pocr.htm

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR, Inc.) Workshops
http://www.naaccr.org/EducationandTraining/ResourcesandTrainingforCTRs.aspx

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) Workshops
http://www.ncra-usa.org/i4a/pages/Index.cfm?mpageID=3281#workshops

Online courses, guides and resources

Australian

Cancer Australia (2008), A National Cancer Data Strategy for Australia: A Collaborative Approach to improving cancer outcomes through cancer data.
http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-data/national-cancer-data-strategy

Cancer Australia (2008), Framework for Specialist Minimum Data Set Development for Specific Cancers in Clinical Cancer Registration: 2008
http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-data/national-cancer-data-strategy

Cancer Australia (2008), Data Sets for Cancer Control and Research in Australia 2008.
http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-data/national-cancer-data-strategy

NBOCC Breast Cancer Minimum Data Set
http://www.cancerinstitute.org.au/publications/i/nbcc-breast-cancer-specific-data-item-for-clinical-cancer-registration

ICD-10-AM/ACHI/ACS Sixth Edition Electronic code list (note: costs may be involved)
http://sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/ncch/condensed_classifications.shtml

Royal College of Pathologists Australia Manual
http://rcpamanual.edu.au/

Condensed Classification of Health Development (CCH) (free registration required)
http://sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/ncch/about.shtml

AIHW 2010 Coding Workforce Report, "The Coding Shortfall"
http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/index.cfm/title/11875

Fundamentals of Morbidity Coding: Using ICD-10-AM, ACHI and ACS Seventh Edition
http://sydney.edu.au/health_sciences/ncch/publications.shtml

Strategic and Operating Principles for Australian Clinical Quality Registries (summary) (PDF 41 KB)
http://www.safetyandquality.gov.au/internet/safety/publishing.nsf/Content/B04469807019D56CCA2578A20000A302/$File/03_Strategic%20and%20Operating%20Principles%20for%20Australian%20Clinical%20Quality%20Registries%20(summary)%20(PDF%2042%20KB).PDF

RCPA 2008 Basic Pathological Sciences seminar notes
http://www.rcpa.edu.au/Store/Product-2008-Basic-Pathological-Sciences-seminar-notes-on-CD_3.aspx

National Cancer Control Initiative: 2003-2005 Report
http://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/publications/national-cancer-control-initiative-2003-2005-report

Medical Online
http://www.medicalonline.com.au/

International

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program

Materials and modules: http://training.seer.cancer.gov/
SEER Tumour specific modules: http://training.seer.cancer.gov/modules_site_spec.html
SEER Self Instructional Manuals for Tumor Registrars: http://seer.cancer.gov/training/manuals/
ICD-O-3 Coding Materials: http://seer.cancer.gov/icd-o-3/index.html
Coding and Staging Manual: http://seer.cancer.gov/tools/codingmanuals/index.html
Glossary of terms: http://training.seer.cancer.gov/glossary.html

World Health Organisation's Candidate One - Online Training Tool for the ICD-10
http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/implementation/en/index.html

National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) Training
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/training/

North American Association of Central Cancer Registries (NAACCR, Inc.) Education & Training Webinars
register here

NPCR Education and Training Series (NETS)
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/training/nets/index.htm

Cyber Cancer Registry
https://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dcpcccr/default/Login.aspx

National Cancer Registrars Association (NCRA) Educational Resources
http://www.ncra-usa.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3281

2009 ICD-10-CM : International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision; Clinical Modification
https://www.cms.gov/ICD10/11b1_2011_ICD10CM_and_GEMs.asp#TopOfPage

Online Learning Guide for Cancer Registrars
http://www.cancerregistrytraining.com/

Registry Mindset
http://registrymindset.com/moodle/index.php

IARC Powerpoint: Registry Quality Control
http://www.iacr.com.fr/uganda/Sankila-Cancer-Registration-Quality-Control.ppt

Cyber Cancer Registry
http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/npcr/training/ccr.htm

AHIMA courses
http://www.ahima.org/resources/default.aspx/

List of American Cancer Manuals 2009
http://www.ncra-usa.org/files/public/Cancer.Registry.Materials.pdf

United States National Library of Medicine UMLS Metathesaurus vocabulary database
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/pubs/factsheets/umlsmeta.html

Non-clinical skills

Develop your general work skills by taking short courses in areas including project management, stats, IT, data management, research, communication, human resource management, finance, leadership.

National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre Communication skills http://canceraustralia.nbocc.org.au/health-professionals/clinical-best-practice/communication-skills

Australian short courses http://www.courses.com.au/

Australian University short courses http://www.australia-university.com.au/short-course-australia/

TAFE courses http://www.tafensw.edu.au/

Australian

EdCaN Cancer Grading and Staging Information http://www.cancerlearning.gov.au/edcan_resources/#/xml/module_3/supporting_modules/supporting_module_3/grading_and_staging.xml

Tasmanian Data Release Guidelines http://www.aihw.gov.au/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=6442472787&libID=6442472768

Health Data Standards & Systems (HDSS) Victoria http://www.health.vic.gov.au/hdss/index.htm

Australian e-Health Research Centre Cancer Stage Interpretation System (CSIS) http://aehrc.com/csis/

Electronic Journal of Health Informatics http://www.ejhi.net/

Metadata Infrastructure Services Unit http://meteor.aihw.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/181162

Giles, G.G. & Thursfield, V (2004) "Cancer Statistics: Everything you wanted to know about the Cancer Registry data but were too afraid to ask". ANZ J. Surg. 2004; 74: 931-934. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1445-1433.2004.03163.x/pdf

McCowan, I., Moore, D., Nguyen, A., Bowman, R., Clarke, B., Duhig, E., and Courage, M-J. (2007) "Collection of Cancer Stage Data by Classifying Free-text Medical Reports", Journal of the American Medical Informatics Association, vol. 14, no. 6, pp. 736-745. http://jamia.bmj.com/content/14/6/736.abstract

Threlfall,T., Wittorff, J., Boutdara, P., Heyworth, J,. Katris, P., Sheiner, H and Fritschi, L. (2005) "Collection of population-based cancer staging information in Western Australia - a feasibility study". Popul Health Metr. 2005; 3: 9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1232866/

International

Hutchinson, Carol L., Menck, H. Burch, M. Gottschalk, R (eds) (2004) Cancer Registry Management, National Cancer Registrars Association, Second Edition. Cancer Registry Management, National Cancer Registrars Association, Second Edition

Jensen, O.M., Parkin, M., MacLennan, R., Muir C. and Skeet, R. (eds) (1991) Cancer registration: principles and methods, International Agency for Research on Cancer Scientific Publication No. 95, World Health Organisation and International Association of Cancer Registries. Cancer registration: principles and methods

Parkin, M and Bray, F (2009) "Evaluation of data quality in the cancer registry: Principles and methods. Part I: Comparability, validity and timeliness", European Journal of Cancer, Volume 45, Issue 5, March 2009. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19128954

Many thanks to the individuals and organisations who contributed to the development of this pathway, particularly the individuals who participated in case study interviews