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Title

Quality Assurance in Radiation Oncology: An Essential Element (1 credit hours)

Abstract

Long a feature of the industrial and business worlds, Quality Assurance (QA) is a growing concern in health care settings: successful QA programs ensure the safety of patients and personnel while delivering high quality health care and assuring the best use of resources, with a team-based and evidence-based approach to solving problems, setting goals, and analyzing results. This module provides an overview of the development, growth and application of QA (and the related concept of Total Quality Management) in health care, and specifically addresses the use of QA protocols in Radiation Oncology. Periodic quality assurance tests for the radiation therapy suite are discussed in detail. Course Approval Expiration/End Date: 01/01/2010 .

Special thanks to Cindy Tollinger, AAS, RT(T) for contributing photographs of the radiation oncology suite at Kettering (OH) Medical Center, where she is employed as a radiation therapist.

This activity may be available in multiple formats or from different sponsors. The ARRT does not allow CE activities such as internet courses, home study programs or directed readings to be repeated for CE credit in the same or any subsequent biennium.

Author

Robert P. Braun, RT (R)(T), RN

Currently Operations Coordinator Department of Radiation Oncology, Hackensack University Medical Center (New Jersey), Robert Braun holds diplomas from St. Barnabas Medical Center School of Radiation Oncology Technology and Mountainside Hospital School of Radiologic Technology; an A.A.S. in Nursing (Felician College, Lodi, NJ); a B.S. (Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY); and a M.Ed. (Pennsylvania State University). Rob is a doctoral student at Seton Hall University, NJ.

Objectives

Upon completion of the module, the student should be able to:

Differentiate between the concepts of Quality Assurance and TQM (Total Quality Management).
Describe the origins and progression of quality management in health care.
List five steps typical of most Performance Improvement Programs.
Recognize the roles of the QA Committee, the Cancer Committee and the radiation therapist in maintaining a QA program in a radiation oncology department.
Identify the key elements required within the radiation therapy treatment chart check as recommended by the ACRO.
Describe the various quality tests required to maintain a high standard of patient care within a functioning radiation therapy department.
State the recommended frequency of various quality assurance tests.

Resources

Bibliography
Dowd SB, Tilson E. The benefits of using CQI/TQM data. Radiologic Technology. 1996;67:533-537.

Kutcher GJ, Coia L, Gillin M, et al. Comprehensive QA for radiation oncology: report of AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 40. Medical Physics. 1994;21:581-618.

McLaughlin CP, Kaluzny AD. Continuous Quality Improvement in Health Care. 3rd Ed. Boston, Ma: Jones and Bartlett; 2005.

Papp J. Quality Management in the Imaging Sciences. 3rd Ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2006.

Tan JK. Total quality in the management of information technology (TQMIT): the case of tele-radiology and imaging technologies. Computer-Based Medical Systems, 1998. Proceedings. 11th IEEE Symposium. 12-14 Jun 1998: 164-169.

Washington C, Leaver D. Principles and Practice of Radiation Therapy: Introduction to Radiation Therapy. 3rd ed. St Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2009.

Webliography
AAPM (American Association of Physicists in Medicine) Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 24 with contribution by AAPM Radiation Therapy Committee Task Group 22. AAPM Report No. 13: Physical Aspects of Quality Assurance in Radiation Therapy. American Institute of Physics. May, 1994. Available at: http://www.aapm.org/pubs/reports/rpt_13.pdf#search=%22radiation%20quality%20assurance%22. Accessed October 10, 2009.

American College of Radiation Oncology. ACRO Home Page. Available at: http://www.acro.org/. Accessed October 10, 2009.

American College of Radiology. Radiation Oncology Documents: ACR Practice Guideline and Technical Standards. 2004-2009. Available at: http://www.acr.org/SecondaryMainMenuCategories/quality_safety/guidelines/ro.aspx. Accessed October 10, 2009.

Ohio Department of Health. Ohio Administrative Code Chapter 3701:1-66: Radiation Generating Equipment Requirements and Quality Assurance Standards. June 27, 2006. Available at: http://www.odh.ohio.gov/rules/final/f3701-1-66.aspx. Accessed October 3, 2007.

Varian Medical Systems. Radiation Oncology. Available at: http://www.varian.com/us/oncology/services_and_support/resources/argus_qa_products.html. Accessed October 10, 2009.

W. Edwards Deming Institute. Home Page. 2009. Available at: http://www.deming.org/. Accessed October 10, 2009.

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