The Georgia Virtual Technical College staff is busy planning the Summit 2005 Distance Learning Conference in conjunction with the Georgia Virtual School staff. The conference will be held October 26 - 28, 2005, at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. Exciting, informative tracks and strands are planned so conference attendees will find something of interest in each session. Out of the ordinary keynote speakers, Jean Gatz and Marc Prensky, have accepted our invitation to participate in this year's conference, so plan on attending and be entertained. One of the highlights of the conference will be the presentation of the Excellence in e-Learning Award to online faculty who has demonstrated excellence in online instruction. Each technical college has the opportunity to nominate an instructor they feel is deserving of this honor. For more information about the upcoming conference, access Summit 2005.

We hope you enjoy reading this quarter's newsletter.

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Student Scene

Fall Quarter
It is not too late to apply for fall quarter! Check out the GVTC Course Catalog, talk with your advisor and apply through the GVTC website for your course(s). Our Fall Quarter Deadline Calendar will assist you with important application and registration dates.

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Program Spotlight

Tumor Registry Specialist Certificate of Credit
The online Tumor Registry Specialist Technical Certificate of Credit (TCC) program is designed to train students in processing the technical knowledge and skills necessary to maintain components of the disease-related data collection systems consistent with medical, administrative, ethical, legal, and accreditation requirements of the health care delivery system.

The tumor registrar processes, maintains, compiles and reports health information for research, quality management and improvement, facility planning, and marketing; abstracts and codes clinical data using appropriate classification systems; obtains long-term follow-up data; and analyzes health records according to standards. The registrar may also be responsible for functional supervision of the various components of the disease-related data collection system and may participate in medical staff and institutional activities.

Employment Opportunities
The Tumor Registrar plays an important role in how cancer trends are reported and how cancer care will respond to those trends. The tumor registry is located within hospital and ambulatory healthcare facilities and data organizations. The Tumor Registrar compiles data on all oncology (cancer) cases seen within jurisdiction (institution, state, region, and nation) in a uniform, consistent and easily retrievable format. Opportunities are also available outside of the hospital work setting and may include: consulting firms, government agencies, physician practices, health information/cancer registry software vendors, or independent contractors.

Career Outlook
The National Cancer Institute estimates that approximately 8.4 million Americans alive today have a history of cancer. About 1,220,100 new cancer cases were expected to be diagnosed in 2000. There are more than 1500 cancer registries in the US and the number continues to grow. In Georgia alone, there is a shortage of approximately 66 Tumor Registrars, 48% of the available positions. Salary range: $20,000-$40,000.

To discover more about this program, access Tumor Registry Specialist Certification.

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Student Spotlight

Student Flora Beard, A Winner Who Never Quits

Flora Beard, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) student who is currently enrolled in the Tumor Registry Program says, "I chose this course of study because I always dreamed of entering the medical field when I was younger. I am now 44 years old and I have been out of school for 26 years. Enrolling at OTC is the best thing I have ever done for myself. I have raised three sons and I am a grandmother of four precious grandchildren. All of my life I have put myself and my educational goals on the back burner in order to make sure my family received the love and education they deserved. Taking the Tumor Registry course is the first thing I have ever done just for myself."

Flora continues: "It has always been my heart's desire to go to college and get an education and now I am fulfilling my dream. I chose the online course because it best suits my personal and financial situation. It is easier for me to do my classes at home instead of driving forty miles to school. When I graduate, I plan to work for a hospital and take the Certified Tumor Registrars (CTR) exam. I know I will succeed because my motto for life is winners never quit and quitters never win! I strongly encourage others who have been thinking of going back to school to 'just do it!' It will be worth your time and effort and you can do whatever you believe you can do!"

Student, Kristin Edwards, Oncology Data Services Abstractor

Kristin Edwards, recent graduate from Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) with an associate degree in Health Information Technology (HIT), state, "This health science degree has provided me the background necessary to move into the Tumor Registry Certificate program. It also includes some of the core classes needed to complete the Tumor Registry Certificate program."

She also says, "Because I have completed the HIT associate degree, I will be able to complete the online portion of the Tumor Registry program in about two quarters. I will then do an internship. I am currently working in a hospital tumor registry, as a full time abstractor. I am also taking sixteen hours of the Tumor Registry program classes online. Although I'm working full time and taking online classes, I can work from any computer that has Internet access. Most people do not know about this growing and exciting field. I knew that I wanted to do something in the health field and did not want to work directly with patients. Students are trained in collecting cancer data and state reporting requirements. Some of the responsibilities that you may have while working in a cancer registry include: abstracting reportable cancer cases and assuring that they are timely, accurate, and complete. You may also share the responsibility of case finding, cancer patient follow-up, and attending tumor conferences as necessary."

As for her plans after college, Kristin states: "When I graduate, I plan to take the national Certified Tumor Registry (CTR) exam and will continue working in a cancer registry. I am also considering consulting. If you are looking for a great career that is always growing, offers good pay, and job availability then the tumor registry is for you!"

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Instructor Spotlight

Susan Roberson

Mrs. Roberson began her teaching career at Ogeechee Technical College in September, 2004. She received her Bachelor in Health Information Management from Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, NC, in 1992. She became a Registered Health Information Administrator in 1994 and received Certified Tumor Registrar certification in 2001. She has many years experience working in various health information management settings. She has worked in the cancer registry field for over nine years and has been "hooked" ever since.

She and her husband Mark spend their free time boating, camping, traveling and watching movies.

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GVTC Coordinator Spotlight

Cindi Mills Energetic Multi-Tasker

Not only is Cindi Mills the GVTC coordinator at Ogeechee Technical College, she is also an accounting instructor, department chair of numerous programs of study and the Phi Beta Lambda advisor. In her capacity as GVTC Coordinator, Cindi provides faculty training in Blackboard, the learning management tool used by the Georgia technical colleges, and Respondus, a powerful tool for creating and managing exams, as well as providing student and faculty support and ensuring that the online courses meet quality assurance criteria. Now you understand why we call her an energetic multi-tasker.

This busy lady told us, "It is wonderful that the Department of Technical and Education, via GVTC, has moved to the forefront by providing online education to many Georgia students. We are now able to serve students that would not have been able to attend our colleges had we not stepped-up to the plate. Everyone benefits."