Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services
Modernizing Cancer Registry Reporting Through Automation and Workforce Training
15 day
improvement
In case submission timeliness.
10%
decrease
In initial submission errors.
Through the Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG), the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services’ Missouri Cancer Registry and Research Center (MCR-ARC) is implementing a data modernization project that treats automation, data systems, and workforce development as one coordinated initiative. MCR automated patient-level electronic pathology reporting resolved system bugs that had hindered modernization, and introduced real-time tracking, validation, and other system enhancements to improve case tracking and data management. In parallel, PHIG support funded five targeted workforce programs: (1) Fundamentals of Abstracting, (2) Abstracting for Non-Hospital and Low-Volume Cancer Reporters, (3) MCR-ARC Education ODS Shorts on-demand series, (4) MO Oncology Data Specialist (MOODS) Study Guide, and (5) Seamless Reporting to MCR-ARC. MCR registry staff, University of Missouri System educators, and CDC informatics collaborators contributed to implementation, with reporting partners and internal staff providing feedback to keep the technology and training grounded in operational needs.
System-generated metrics show that the modernized approach improved case submission timeliness by about 15 days and reduced initial submission errors by more than 10%. Real-time dashboards, audit logs, and system metrics allow MCR to monitor these results continuously, while the CDC beta-testing partnership provides external validation and an opportunity to inform tools being considered for broader use. Other health departments and cancer registries can adapt this practice by mapping manual bottlenecks, establishing baseline data-quality measures, deploying automation incrementally, pairing technology changes with role-specific training, and using dashboards and stakeholder feedback to monitor implementation.
PHIG PPI Pilot Disclaimer
This practice was reviewed and classified during the 2025 PHIG Promising Practices Initiative pilot using the pilot version of the scoring rubric. Following the pilot, the rubric was refined based on lessons learned to strengthen practice classification and supporting documentation requirements. These refinements were applied to future practice reviews.
PHIG PPI Disclaimer
The Public Health Infrastructure Grant (PHIG) Promising Practice Initiative (PPI) showcases practices that PHIG recipients have successfully implemented so that public health professionals across the country can adapt evidence-based approaches to their work.
In this context, a PHIG Promising Practice refers to an action taken by a PHIG recipient and made possible through PHIG funding or support (directly or indirectly). This action demonstrates evidence of positive change through interventions, activities, programs, strategies, policies, procedures, or processes.
PHIG Promising Practices are evaluated on a continuum as Novel, Emerging, Promising, or Best.