(Saturday, 3/30/2019)
Room: Exhibit Hall
Purpose: Emerging technology introduction can be a challenge in a single institution, but becomes significantly more difficult when dealing with multiple centers. Our team is spread out across four cancer center locations and has implemented a standardized approach to the implementation of new technologies in a streamlined manner at any of the facilities.
Methods: Our combined four cancer centers provide external beam, IMRT, SRS, SBRT, HDR, and LDR treatments. We have developed a standard policy for the introduction of new technologies into the department across the system. The policy consists of a multi-disciplinary team which oversees the following aspects of implementation: safety review (NRC, FDA, and vendor notifications), staff communication, education, vendor training, commissioning, policy creation, in-house training, dry runs, go-live, follow and quality review after implementation.
Results: Over the course of a year and a half, we have successfully implemented the following programs using this process: cranial MLC-based SRS, lung SBRT, tandem and ovoid applicator, universal cylinder applicator, APBI applicator and LDR prostate seed implant. One key component to producing a high quality program is routine follow up and evaluation of both the overall new process and dosimetric results from the patients treated.
Conclusion: Creating a robust, standardized process for implementation of emerging technologies can be successfully performed if the team is committed to providing a robust quality approach to the process.
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