Quality And Safety In Radiation Oncology

Quality and Safety in Radiation Oncology is the first book to provide an authoritative and evidence-based guide to the understanding and implementation of quality and safety procedures in radiation oncology practice. Alongside the rapid growth of technology and radiotherapy treatment options for cancer in recent years, quality and safety standards are not only of the utmost importance but best practices ensuring quality and safety are crucial aspect of modern radiation oncology training. A detailed exploration and review of these standards is a necessary part of radiation oncologist’s professional competency, both in the clinical setting and at the study table while preparing for board review and MOC exams. Chapter topics range from fundamental concepts of value and quality to commissioning technology and the use of metrics. They include perspectives on quality and safety from the patient, third-party payers, as well as from the federal government. Other chapters cover prospective testing of quality, training and education, error identification and analysis, incidence reporting, as well as special technology and procedures, including MRI-guided radiation therapy, proton therapy and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT), quality and safety procedures in resource-limited environments, and more. State-of-the-art quality assurance procedures and safety guidelines are the backbone of this unique and essential volume. Physicians, medical physicists, dosimetrists, radiotherapists, hospital administrators, and other healthcare professionals will find this resource an invaluable compendium of best practices in radiation oncology. Key Features: Case examples illustrate best practices and pitfalls Several dozen graphs, tables and figures help quantify the discussion of quality and safety throughout the text Section II covers all aspects of quality assurance procedures for the physicist

The first text to focus solely on quality and safety in radiotherapy, this work encompasses not only traditional, more technically oriented, quality assurance activities, but also general approaches of quality and safety. It includes contributions from experts both inside and outside the field to present a global view. The task of assuring quality

Because radiation is a central curative and palliative therapy for many patients, it is essential to have safe and efficient systems for planning and delivering radiation therapy. Factors such as rapid technological advances, financial reorganization, an aging population, and evolving societal expectations, however, may be compromising our ability to deliver highly reliable and efficient care. Engineering Patient Safety in Radiation Oncology describes proven concepts and examples, borrowed from organizations known for high reliability and value creation, to guide radiation oncology centers towards achieving patient safety and quality goals. It portrays the authors’ efforts at the University of North Carolina to address the challenges of keeping patients safe while continuously improving care delivery processes. Reviews past and current challenges of patient safety issues within radiation oncology Provides an overview of best practices from high reliability organizations Explains how to optimize workplaces and work processes to minimize human error Offers methods for engaging and respecting people during their transition to safety mindfulness Requiring no prior knowledge of high reliability and value creation, the book is divided into two parts. Part one introduces the basic concepts, methods, and tools that underlie the authors’ approach to high reliability and value creation. In addition, it provides an overview of key safety challenges within radiation oncology. In part two, the authors supply an in-depth account of their journey to high reliability and value creation at the University of North Carolina.

The proposed book aims to explain the basic principles, concepts and regulations behind radiation protection and their application in the field of radiation oncology practice. This book will be useful to all those students, teachers and practicing professionals involved in the field of radiation oncology.

Radiology has been transformed by new imaging advances and a greater demand for imaging, along with a much lower tolerance for error as part of the Quality & Safety revolution in healthcare. With a greater emphasis on patient safety and quality in imaging practice, imaging specialists are increasingly charged with ensuring patient safety and demonstrating that everything done for patients in their care meets the highest quality and safety standards. This book offers practical guidance on understanding, creating, and implementing quality management programs in Radiology. Chapters are comprehensive, detailed, and organized into three sections: Core Concepts, Management Concepts, and Educational & Special Concepts. Discussions are applicable to all practice settings: community hospitals, private practice, academic radiology, and government/military practice, as well as to those preparing for the quality and safety questions on the American Board of Radiology's "Maintenance of Certification" or initial Board Certification Examinations. Bringing together the various elements that comprise the quality and safety agenda for Radiology, this book serves as a thorough roadmap and resource for radiologists, technicians, and radiology managers and administrators.

Surface Guided Radiation Therapy provides a comprehensive overview of optical surface image guidance systems for radiation therapy. It serves as an introductory teaching resource for students and trainees, and a valuable reference for medical physicists, physicians, radiation therapists, and administrators who wish to incorporate surface guided radiation therapy (SGRT) into their clinical practice. This is the first book dedicated to the principles and practice of SGRT, featuring: Chapters authored by an internationally represented list of physicists, radiation oncologists and therapists, edited by pioneers and experts in SGRT Covering the evolution of localization systems and their role in quality and safety, current SGRT systems, practical guides to commissioning and quality assurance, clinical applications by anatomic site, and emerging topics including skin mark-less setups. Several dedicated chapters on SGRT for intracranial radiosurgery and breast, covering technical aspects, risk assessment and outcomes. Jeremy Hoisak, PhD, DABR is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Hoisak’s clinical expertise includes radiosurgery and respiratory motion management. Adam Paxton, PhD, DABR is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Utah. Dr. Paxton’s clinical expertise includes patient safety, motion management, radiosurgery, and proton therapy. Benjamin Waghorn, PhD, DABR is the Director of Clinical Physics at Vision RT. Dr. Waghorn’s research interests include intensity modulated radiation therapy, motion management, and surface image guidance systems. Todd Pawlicki, PhD, DABR, FAAPM, FASTRO, is Professor and Vice-Chair for Medical Physics in the Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Sciences at the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Pawlicki has published extensively on quality and safety in radiation therapy. He has served on the Board of Directors for the American Society for Radiology Oncology (ASTRO) and the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM).

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) has emerged as an important innovative treatment for various primary and metastatic cancers. This book provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the physical/technological, biological, and clinical aspects of SBRT. It will serve as a detailed resource for this rapidly developing treatment modality. The organ sites covered include lung, liver, spine, pancreas, prostate, adrenal, head and neck, and female reproductive tract. Retrospective studies and prospective clinical trials on SBRT for various organ sites from around the world are examined, and toxicities and normal tissue constraints are discussed. This book features unique insights from world-renowned experts in SBRT from North America, Asia, and Europe. It will be necessary reading for radiation oncologists, radiation oncology residents and fellows, medical physicists, medical physics residents, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and cancer scientists.

This publication serves as a useful guide for medical physicists in radiation oncology, radiation oncologists and radiation therapists, ensuring accuracy, safety and quality in radiation therapy. Record and verify systems (RVSs) were developed to reduce the risk of treatment errors in radiation oncology. These have recently evolved into complete radiotherapy information management systems that interface with imaging systems, treatment planning computers, and treatment delivery systems. To function as intended, RVSs must be subject to a comprehensive quality assurance (QA) program. This publication provides practical guidelines for a comprehensive QA programme and its implementation. It describes the QA program, including acceptance tests and the commissioning process that should be used in conjunction with the installation of a new RVS. It is also highlighted that some of the tests performed at installation must be repeated regularly as part of the periodic quality control checks.