Open AccessCollaboration in Victorian radiation therapy
Author(s) -
Sale C,
Tran T,
Fenton P,
Bulmer M,
Lynch R
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
radiographer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.484
H-Index - 18
eISSN - 2051-3909
pISSN - 0033-8273
DOI - 10.1002/j.2051-3909.2011.tb00164.x
Subject(s) - staffing , upgrade , radiation therapist , radiation therapy , medicine , medical physics , operations management , radiation oncology , engineering management , nursing , computer science , surgery , engineering , operating system
In 2009, Ballarat Austin Radiation Oncology Centre (BAROC) required a significant upgrade in equipment and software that was planned to span a nine‐day period. Many studies have investigated planned and unplanned interruptions to radiotherapy treatment; however, there remains no radiobiological consensus on the impact of interruptions on treatment outcomes across all areas of the body. Therefore, minimising treatment interruptions is important, highlighting that a patient‐focused approach in these situations is required. BAROC approached the Andrew Love Cancer Centre (ALCC) to assist in treating patients during the upgrade. For BAROC patients to be treated during this period there were concerns to be addressed between the two centres, namely; (1) compatibility and beam quality matching of the linear accelerators, (2) agreement between the two centres in terms of the patient record system, billing and medico‐legal matters; and (3) staffing. The commitment of the ALCC and BAROC staff to provide the best possible and equitable treatment to their patients was a strong factor that made this collaborative effort possible and a success. This paper aims to describe the unique achievement of the successful collaboration between BAROC and ALCC.