Rhode Island Statewide Cancer Registry

The HARI Cancer Information System maintains the Rhode Island Cancer Registry, a statewide surveillance database related to Rhode Island's cancer patient population. This work is performed under contract and collaboration with the Rhode Island Department of Health. HARI staff members conduct the day-to-day operations of the Registry, making sure the data are accurate, complete, and "fit for use". HARI then provides updates to the Rhode Island Department of Health on a quarterly basis.

Since 1986, the database has contained important demographic and clinical information on all persons diagnosed with cancer in Rhode Island. Patient information is collected from the cancer registries in area hospitals,freestanding radiotherapy treatment centers and pathology laboratories licensed by the State of Rhode Island. All are mandated, under state law, to report according to the Rules and Regulations Pertaining to the Rhode Island Cancer Registry. The Department of Health uses the cancer data to guide its cancer control programs and to provide researchers with information. Some statistics are available on the Rhode Island Cancer Registry website. Customized data are made available by request.

In addition to performing data quality control, HARI staff works closely and collaboratively with area hospital tumor registrars, helping them maintain strong in-house cancer registries. Technical assistance and data are provided to the hospitals on a routine basis.

The database currently contains 20 complete years of data including more than 147,000 cases diagnosed in the state.

The Rhode Island Cancer Registry has been awarded the "gold standard" for eleven consecutive years by the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, the accrediting body for central cancer registries. The accreditation process involves the examination of six distinct areas of data quality, completeness and timeliness. Rhode Island consistently meets the highest standard, the "gold standard," in all six criteria.

For more information about the registry or its data, contact David L. Rousseau by phone at (401) 946-7887 ext. 118 or by e-mail at DavidR@hari.org.