SCOTTSBLUFF, Neb., - Diagnosis, treatment and prevention are three well-known, vital components of effective cancer care. A lesser known, but equally important component is the data compiled by Regional West Medical Center’s Cancer Registry. To honor the skill and accuracy of each cancer registrar, the National Cancer Registrars Association has designated April 9 - 13 as National Cancer Registrars’ Week. This year’s theme is “Cancer Registrars: The Core of Your Cancer Program,” which spotlights the critical role registrars as cancer data management experts play in cancer treatment and research program.

A cancer registry is a data system designed to collect, manage and analyze health information from patients who have been diagnosed and treated for cancer. The 2007 cancer registry contains data on cancer cases for 10,478 patients seen at Regional West. In 2006, over 400 cases were added to the database.

“Cancer registrars are data management experts working in cancer treatment and research settings. They find, interpret and record a wide range of demographic and medical information on people with cancer,” said Cindy Keller, cancer registrar of the Regional West Cancer Treatment Center. “This information is submitted to the state and national cancer registries for use in research, treatment and prevention initiatives. Cancer programs are thus able to accurately determine cancer patient populations, measure outcomes of treatment and survival, and formulate plans for quality improvement.”

Quality cancer care is central to the nation’s cancer control efforts and cancer registrars are the first link by capturing data on patients diagnosed with cancer. This data often results in publication of groundbreaking research, such as the recently released study by the American Cancer Society, “Cancer Statistics, 2007”. Key results in the study were based on data from two national cancer registries - the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program of the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR).

Keller adds that while one patient’s journey does not provide research conclusions, the work of the cancer registry includes collecting data on cancer patients throughout the world. As cancer information managers, the cancer registrar is able to share specific information relative to research without compromising patient privacy. The information gathered is combined to reveal trends that provide lifesaving information on treatment, care and prevention for all types of cancer.

Regional West’s cancer program has been an approved program with the Commission on Cancer, American College of Surgeons since 1985. In 2004, Regional West received special recognition with the Outstanding Achievement Award.

“Approval by the Commission on Cancer is given only to those facilities that have voluntarily committed to provide the best in diagnosis and treatment of cancer and undergo a rigorous evaluation process and review of its performance every three years,” said Jeff Kriewald, assistant director of the Regional West Cancer Treatment Center. “There are more than 1,400 approved programs nationwide, representing close to 25 percent of all hospitals. Of the hospitals surveyed, only 39 cancer programs received the Outstanding Achievement Award including Regional West.”

According to the Commission, the purpose of the award is to recognize programs that strive for excellence in providing quality care to cancer patients while serving as a resource by communicating and sharing best practices with other cancer programs.

“Regional West’s cancer program reflects the high standards of professionals who comprise patient care teams,” Kriewald adds.

Regional West Health Services, with over 1,400 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 40 medical specialties. Regional West Medical Center, a subsidiary of Regional West Health Services, is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is one of only three Level II Trauma Centers in the state of Nebraska.