Banjade D, Allan J, Thuraisingam K, Mishra A, Newham B, Tan SJE, Renshaw A, Hammond R, Stevens G, Warr G. Implementation of advanced radiotherapy technology to improve clinical outcomes in rural NSW.
Aust J Rural Health 2020;
28:311-316. [PMID:
32495987 DOI:
10.1111/ajr.12630]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM
Availability of advanced radiotherapy technology to treat cancer is limited in regional Australia. At Central West Cancer Care Centre, the utilisation rate of intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric modulated arc therapy was significantly lower compared to other NSW public health services. Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment was not available at Central West Cancer Care Centre.
DESIGN
To increase the intensity-modulated radiotherapy/volumetric modulated arc therapy utilisation rate and to make stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment available through quality improvement projects with multi-disciplinary collaboration.
SETTING
Central West Cancer Care Centre is part of Western NSW Local health District. Central West Cancer Care Centre has two linear accelerators for delivering intensity-modulated radiotherapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy and stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatments, and a computed tomography simulator with 4D computed tomography capability.
KEY MEASURES FOR IMPROVEMENT
Intensity-modulated radiotherapy/volumetric modulated arc therapy utilisation rate increases to > 65% Stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy available to Central West Cancer Care Centre patients STRATEGY FOR CHANGE: A multi-disciplinary active of team radiation oncologists, medical physics specialists and radiation therapists developed an implementation plan for each treatment technique.
EFFECT OF CHANGE
There was a significant increase in use of advanced techniques. The impact on patients included the following: Fewer side effects and improved control of disease as the advanced techniques directed the dose to the tumour and reduced the radiation dose to organ at risk. Treatment completed sooner than conventional radiotherapy, as the required dose required fewer trips to the hospital. Rural and remote patients were not required to travel to a metropolitan centre to have stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy treatment.
LESSONS LEARNT
Strong commitment from a trained team and a collaborative approach is important for the implementation of advanced technology in regional centres.
Collapse