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Cancer registrar vs release of information specialist

The differences between cancer registrars and releases of information specialist can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 6-12 months to become both a cancer registrar and a release of information specialist. Additionally, a cancer registrar has an average salary of $49,393, which is higher than the $45,891 average annual salary of a release of information specialist.

The top three skills for a cancer registrar include patients, CTR and medical terminology. The most important skills for a release of information specialist are patients, HIPAA, and customer service.

Cancer registrar vs release of information specialist overview

Cancer RegistrarRelease Of Information Specialist
Yearly salary$49,393$45,891
Hourly rate$23.75$22.06
Growth rate11%11%
Number of jobs11,72268,103
Job satisfaction--
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Associate Degree, 36%
Average age4545
Years of experience1212

What does a cancer registrar do?

Cancer registrars collect and report data related to cancer. They gather information like the history, treatment used, diagnosis, and current status of cancer patients. The data collected will be used by cancer treatment facilities, healthcare workers, researchers, and several others to improve the knowledge that every health care department have and to increase the chances of survival of cancer patients. Some of the basic skills that a cancer registrar should have are analytical skills, detail orientation, and critical thinking skills to make sure that all data gathered are documented and stored in a safe place.

What does a release of information specialist do?

A release of information specialist is primarily in charge of retrieving and releasing data to qualified recipients while adhering to the guidelines and confidentiality protocols that aim to protect sensitive information. Although the extent of their responsibilities usually depends on their industry or company of employment, it usually includes maintaining records of procedures and transactions, preparing and processing documents, organizing files, producing progress reports to managers, and keeping an eye out for any inconsistencies, resolving them promptly and efficiently.

Cancer registrar vs release of information specialist salary

Cancer registrars and releases of information specialist have different pay scales, as shown below.

Cancer RegistrarRelease Of Information Specialist
Average salary$49,393$45,891
Salary rangeBetween $33,000 And $72,000Between $23,000 And $91,000
Highest paying City-New York, NY
Highest paying state-Connecticut
Best paying company-AstraZeneca
Best paying industry-Insurance

Differences between cancer registrar and release of information specialist education

There are a few differences between a cancer registrar and a release of information specialist in terms of educational background:

Cancer RegistrarRelease Of Information Specialist
Most common degreeAssociate Degree, 42%Associate Degree, 36%
Most common majorHealth Care AdministrationHealth Care Administration
Most common collegeUniversity of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California

Cancer registrar vs release of information specialist demographics

Here are the differences between cancer registrars' and releases of information specialist' demographics:

Cancer RegistrarRelease Of Information Specialist
Average age4545
Gender ratioMale, 7.8% Female, 92.2%Male, 14.4% Female, 85.6%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 9.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 17.5% Asian, 8.7% White, 58.7% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.3%Black or African American, 10.6% Unknown, 4.2% Hispanic or Latino, 16.4% Asian, 8.4% White, 59.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between cancer registrar and release of information specialist duties and responsibilities

Cancer registrar example responsibilities.

  • Process release of information requests according to HIPAA regulations and manage valuables safe for entire facility.
  • Assign TNM and AJCC staging codes to newly diagnose cancer patents.
  • Provide coordination of cancer committee require by ACOS to meet accreditation standards.
  • Work for DHMC for this time period helping DHMC get up to date w cancer abstracts and the NH state cancer registry
  • Obtain patient insurance information and forward to business department for approval of out-patient surgery.
  • Train new employees and registrars.
  • Show more

Release of information specialist example responsibilities.

  • Manage and track various holds on inventory: ship on quarantine; FDA hold; and quality hold.
  • Apply insurance knowledge to interpret EOB, all manage contracts and fee schedules for physician services and hospital services.
  • Generate reports for managing compliance with Medicaid documentation in support of electronic billing to MCO
  • Deliver customer service to patients and their families regarding access to their medical history information.
  • Assist clients with choosing a Medicaid HMO.
  • Handle Meditech requests then enter information into Esmartlog.
  • Show more

Cancer registrar vs release of information specialist skills

Common cancer registrar skills
  • Patients, 20%
  • CTR, 11%
  • Medical Terminology, 10%
  • Abstracts, 8%
  • Data Collection, 6%
  • COC, 5%
Common release of information specialist skills
  • Patients, 24%
  • HIPAA, 16%
  • Customer Service, 6%
  • Medical Terminology, 5%
  • ROI, 5%
  • Hippa, 5%

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