Cancer Registry encourages the use of the cancer registry
database. The registry maintains patient confidentiality. The
primary responsibility of the registrar is to assure that complete
and accurate data are collected and maintained for all cancer
patients diagnosed and/or treated at Lima Memorial Hospital for
reporting and statistical analysis. Records are reviewed for both
inpatients and outpatients. The cancer registrar prepares a summary
or abstract for each cancer patient. Included are pertinent facts
such as: demographic information, medical history, diagnostic
findings, diagnosis, cancer therapy and follow up.
Reasons for maintaining a Cancer Registry
include:
- Education: Statistical reports of registry data enable
physicians who treat cancer patients to evaluate the success of
specific tumor treatments.
- Lifetime patient follow up: A Cancer Registry serves as an
automatic reminder to physicians and patients to schedule regular
physical examinations thus assuring continued medical supervision
of patients who have had a diagnosis of cancer.
- Research: The data collected and maintained in the registry
serves as a valuable resource for researchers interested in the
causes, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Fundamental research on
the epidemiology of cancer is initiated using the accumulated
data.
In all circumstances, confidentiality of patient identifying
information and related medical data is strictly maintained. Only
aggregated data are analyzed and published. The individual cancer
patient is never identified outside of the registry system.