Cancer Registry
What Do We Do?
Cancer registrars collect and manage information about each patient’s entire cancer experience. Kansas state law requires that any time a patient is diagnosed with or treated for cancer, it must be reported to the local regional registry. When this data comes to Tammy Walker Cancer Center, cancer registrars abstract key information that is sent to the central registry, Kansas Cancer Registry at Kansas University Medical Center, which then sends it to the CDC.
Why Do We Do It?
All of this data is used to research cancer. Research is conducted on everything from causes of cancer to best treatments to quality of life after cancer. Every patient’s information makes a difference!
Annual Follow-Up
Every year, Tammy Walker Cancer Center will conduct follow-up with the patients that have been diagnosed or treated at a Salina Regional Health Center facility or partners such as Salina Surgical Hospital and Salina Urology Associates. You or your doctor may receive a letter asking for information about your cancer experience. This information is kept secure and confidential in accordance to HIPAA guidelines. Any information that is shared is used only for the purpose of collecting ongoing data related to recurrence rates, additional treatments, and quality of life. Annual follow-up letters and phone calls also help to remind physicians and patients that regular exams are an important part of patient care for all survivors.
As of October 2014, the Cancer Registry currently has data on over 12,000 patients with over 13,000 cancers. Out of those 12,000 patients, approximately 9,700 are being followed annually with a 93% success rate. Cancer Registry encourages you to return your follow-up letters and let us know if you have moved or changed physicians. Your complete information makes a difference!
A Little Bit of History
Tammy Walker’s Cancer Registry originally began as two separate cancer registries, St. John’s Regional Health Center and Asbury-Salina Regional Medical Center. The data in the current registry goes as far back as January 1, 1984. Michele Johnson, Certified Tumor Registrar, began working as a cancer registrar at St. John’s in 1986 and joined with the Cancer Program in the early 90’s. As the oncology field made great advances, Pam continued to keep up with the demand for excellence and quality by earning the nationally recognized Certified Tumor Registrar credential in 1991. In 2012, it became mandatory that cancer programs accredited by the Commission on Cancer employ a Certified Tumor Registrar to meet quality standards.
In early 2014, Vicky Lauseng joined the Cancer Registry after earning a degree in Health Information Management from Hutchinson Community College. Pam continues to train Vicky in all aspects of Cancer Registry management in preparation to take the Certified Tumor Registrar exam in 2015.
Please call if you have any questions about Cancer Registry data or follow-up.
Michele Johnson, CTR 785-452-7037
Vicky Lauseng, RHIT 785-452-7983