I have found that it doesn't matter what department you are under,
staffing is the issue. The other issue is whether you have skills
that others in your department do not have, such as doing statistics,
graphs, etc.

I have been under medical records, oncology unit (nurse director),
Quality Improvement, and many other departments. I was pulled away
MORE from my job in those other departments than I ever was in
medical records. It all depends on the staffing. I currently report
to the director of the cancer center and I am constantly pulled away
from my job to do things for radiation oncology, anything from doing
their quality improvement projects to clerical jobs. Because I know
how to use a computer, excel spreadsheets, make graphs (like we all
do for annual reports), I do most of the statistics for the breast
cancer coordinator (nurse), and other employees of the cancer center,
while ignoring my own job. When there is a shortage on staffing,
they will pull anybody to do anything that needs to be done.

One thing I did find in medical records, they understand how long it
takes to abstract because they can compare it to coding (and a good
coder will spend the about the same amount of time as it takes to
abstract). The business director I report to for the cancer center
does not understand paperwork and thinks it can all be done quickly.


--- In cancerregistrargroup@yahoogroups.com, "jkijmills2"
<jkijmills2@y...> wrote:
> What department has responsibility for the cancer registry in your
> facility? I am currently under the direction of the radiation
> oncology
> department in our hospital (small, community-based), and they are
> considering switching the registry to the HIM department. I would
> report to the manager and director of medical records instead of
the
> oncology nurse manager as I do now.
>
> I am preparing to plead my case to remain in the oncology
department,
> and would appreciate any input. Thanks!