Certified Tumor Registrar (CTR) Practice Exam

What does passive follow-up entail in cancer registry practices?

1. Contacting patients directly

2. Checking postal addresses for updates

3. Checking hospital database for patient readmissions

4. Sending surveys to patients

The correct answer is: Checking hospital database for patient readmissions

In cancer registry practices, passive follow-up refers to the methods used to gather information about a patient’s status without direct contact with the patient. This approach often relies on existing data sources to maintain an updated record of the patient's health and treatment outcomes. When considering the options provided, passive follow-up involves reviewing hospital databases or other medical records to track events such as patient readmissions, which is a reflection of their ongoing health status. This method is resource-efficient and allows for data collection without the need for active outreach to patients. In contrast, contacting patients directly and sending surveys would constitute active follow-up methods, as these require intentional and proactive engagement with patients to acquire their information. Checking postal addresses for updates is typically more related to maintaining contact information rather than gathering health data. These distinctions clarify why the approach associated with checking hospital databases for patient readmissions aligns with the concept of passive follow-up in cancer registry practices.