What Is Seer Educate

The landscape of professional development is constantly evolving, requiring specialized tools to keep pace with industry demands. For those in highly technical and critical fields, access to precise, up-to-date training is not just beneficial—it's essential. This is particularly true for cancer registry professionals, a vital cohort responsible for collecting and managing crucial cancer data.

If you've heard the term "SEEREducate" and wondered how it fits into this specialized world, you're in the right place. This article will demystify SEEREducate, explaining exactly what it is, its core purpose, and how this unique platform empowers cancer registrars to excel in their demanding roles.

What Exactly Is SEER*Educate?

SEEREducate is a specialized, web-based online training platform designed specifically for individuals in the cancer registry profession or those interested in entering the field. Its primary goal is to enhance the technical skills of cancer registrars through applied testing on the latest coding guidelines and concepts. Unlike general educational platforms, SEEREducate is laser-focused on the intricacies of cancer data collection and coding.

This comprehensive platform is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through its Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, in collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. A significant advantage of SEER*Educate is that it is free to use for registrars in hospitals and central registries once an account is created.

Key Features and Benefits for Cancer Registrars

SEER*Educate stands out due to its practical, "learn by doing" approach, directly addressing the need for more hands-on application exercises in cancer registry training.

Practical Application and Skill Improvement

The platform offers hundreds of practice case scenarios, allowing users to code data items and immediately receive detailed rationales for the correct answers. This "learn by doing" methodology is crucial for improving individual performance and promoting coding consistency across the cancer registry community. It's akin to having a personal registry trainer review 100% of your work.

Comprehensive Content and Up-to-Date Guidelines

SEER*Educate provides study material to help registrars understand common terms and definitions found in medical records. It includes:

• General Knowledge Tests: Covering essential areas like Anatomy and Physiology, and Medical Terminology.
• Coding Practice Cases: Featuring numerous cases across primary site groups, using current coding guidelines like Collaborative Stage and SEER Program Coding and Staging Manuals.
• Rationale Explanations: For every data item, not only are the correct values presented, but also rationales explaining how to arrive at those codes.

Career Advancement and Continuing Education

For cancer registrars, SEER*Educate is an invaluable tool for professional growth:

• CTR Exam Preparation: It offers targeted training to help individuals prepare for the Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) exam.
• Continuing Education (CE) Credits: Users can earn free Continuing Education credits, including Category A CEs, by successfully completing case coding exercises. This is vital for maintaining professional credentials and staying current with evolving guidelines.

Management and Oversight Capabilities

Beyond individual learning, SEER*Educate also includes management functionality. This allows trainers, managers, and instructors to monitor the progress and performance of their affiliated users. Reports provide aggregated and detailed data on individual and group performance, helping identify training areas and assess coding consistency across staff.

Who Can Benefit from SEER*Educate?

While its focus is niche, SEER*Educate serves a broad spectrum within the cancer registry ecosystem:

• New Hires and Trainees: Provides foundational knowledge and practical experience to get new registrars to a better starting point before engaging in real cancer registry work.
• Experienced Registrars: Helps seasoned professionals stay current with changing guidelines and refine their technical skills.
• Individuals Preparing for the CTR Exam: Offers targeted practice and foundational knowledge crucial for exam success.
• Registry Trainers and Managers: Provides tools to assign training, monitor staff progress, and ensure consistent data collection practices.
• Hospital-Based and Central Registry Professionals: The platform is designed for use by registrars in various settings.

Getting Started with SEER*Educate

Accessing SEER*Educate is straightforward. As a free, web-based platform, you simply need to create an account to begin your training.

To maximize your learning experience:

• Utilize the Practice Cases: The core strength of SEER*Educate lies in its "learn by doing" approach. Engage with the practice cases thoroughly, and don't shy away from making mistakes—the detailed rationales are there to guide your understanding.
• Understand Browser Requirements: Historically, SEER*Educate has had specific browser requirements (e.g., Mozilla Firefox) for optimal performance. Always check the latest recommendations on their official site.
• Consider Your Setup: For practical application exercises involving case scenarios and coding forms, using a dual-monitor workstation can significantly enhance the user experience by allowing you to view both simultaneously.

Conclusion

SEER*Educate is a testament to the power of specialized, targeted education. It stands as a critical resource for cancer registry professionals, offering an unparalleled platform for skill development, certification preparation, and ongoing continuing education. By providing free, hands-on training with detailed feedback, it plays a pivotal role in ensuring the accuracy and consistency of cancer data—data that is fundamental to cancer research and public health initiatives.

Are you a cancer registry professional looking to sharpen your skills or prepare for your CTR exam? Exploring SEER*Educate could be the next crucial step in your professional journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SEER*Educate?

SEER*Educate is a free, web-based online training platform specifically designed for cancer registry professionals to improve their technical skills in cancer data coding and guidelines through practical application exercises and general knowledge tests.

Who funds SEER*Educate?

SEER*Educate is funded by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) through its Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program, in collaboration with the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center.

Is SEER*Educate free to use?

Yes, SEER*Educate is free to use for cancer registrars and those interested in the profession, requiring only an account creation to access its resources.

Can I earn CE credits with SEER*Educate?

Yes, you can earn free Continuing Education (CE) credits, including Category A CEs, by achieving a minimum score on the case coding exercises within specific site groups.

What kind of content does SEER*Educate offer?

SEER*Educate offers a variety of content, including hundreds of practice case scenarios for coding cancer data, detailed rationales for correct answers, and general knowledge tests on subjects like medical terminology, anatomy, and physiology.