SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., - Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention are three vital components of effective cancer care. Another important component is the data compiled by cancer registries across the nation, including the Cancer Registry at Regional West Medical Center. To honor the skill and accuracy of each cancer registrar, the National Cancer Registrars Association has designated April 13 to 17 as National Cancer Registrars’ Week. This year’s theme is “Cancer Registrars…Rock Solid.”

Cancer registrars are data management experts who work in cancer treatment and research settings. They find, interpret, and record a wide range of demographic and medical information from patients who have been diagnosed with and treated for cancer. Quality cancer data is central to the nation’s cancer fighting efforts and cancer registrars are the first link in capturing data on patients diagnosed with cancer. Cancer programs are then able to accurately determine cancer patient populations, measure outcomes of treatment and survival, and formulate plans for quality improvement.

Cindy Keller, CTR, Cancer Registry Coordinator, and JoAnn Cervantes, Cancer Data Specialist, comprise Regional West’s Cancer Registry staff.

The 2009 cancer registry contains data on cancer cases for over 11,000 patients seen at Regional West since 1982. In 2008, 462 cases were added to the database.

The state of Nebraska requires that all hospitals that diagnose or treat more than 50 new cases of cancer each year maintain a cancer registry. This data is sent monthly to the Nebraska Cancer Registry and annually to the National Cancer Data Base. The data aids in the treatment, planning, staging and continuity of care for cancer patients. Regional West is one of 10 cancer registry programs approved by the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer in Nebraska.

“The Cancer Registry staff does a great deal of behind the scenes work that is critically important to the success of our program,” said Jeff Kriewald, Regional West’s Director of Cancer Services. “Having accurate and timely statistical data regarding the incidence of cancer is important at the local, state, and national levels. The work done by our registry staff here at Regional West is second to none and it is important that their work is recognized during this week and throughout the year.”

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,800 employees, provides comprehensive and innovative health care services for the people and communities of western Nebraska and the neighboring states of Colorado, South Dakota and Wyoming. With over 110 active physicians, 95 percent of whom are board certified or board eligible, plus an additional 25 consulting specialists, we offer care that spans more than 30 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by The Joint Commission and is one of three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.