Cancer Registry
Current cancer statistics are crucial for successful cancer research. In most states, hospitals are required, by law, to submit data about their patients with cancer. That is why if you are treated for cancer at Pardee Cancer Center, our Cancer Registry program will collect and submit some of your health information to state and national databases.
Patient Privacy and the Information We Collect
For your privacy, we do not include your name or other information linked specifically to you. In fact, we keep information used to identify you strictly confidential, as mandated by the State of North Carolina and the bylaws of Pardee Hospital. We also comply with HIPAA regulations.
We collect and submit the following information to state and national databases:
- Your family history
- Your social history
- Your occupational history
- The location of your tumor
- The cell type of your tumor
- Your stage at the time of diagnosis
- The treatment you received
- Your current prognosis
Who Uses the Data?
We submit data on an annual basis to the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) and on a quarterly basis to the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry. Other hospitals throughout the country also submit this information so researchers have complete, accurate data to work with in determining incidence and mortality rates, as well as in planning clinical trials and other research.
Lifetime Follow-up With Cancer Survivors
Our Cancer Registry is also responsible for your lifetime follow-up. If you are in our cancer patient database, someone from our team will follow up with you once a year for the rest of your life. He or she may:
- Review your electronic medical record
- Send a letter to your physician or another hospital
We are required to have current follow-up on at least 90 percent of our patients. This information helps statisticians determine how long patients live with certain stages of cancer and serves as a reminder for your physicians to schedule check-ups on a routine basis. We hope that by collecting and submitting this information, we can aid in research to find a cure for cancer.