Health Imaging & IT - September 2008 - (Page 14)

special section oncology imaging By Lisa Fratt TACKLES IT INTEGRATION As radiation oncology sites press forward into image-guided therapy, the need for integrated IT intensiﬁes. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, radiation oncology seemed to operate in idle. Technology advances were few and far between, providing ample time for practices to adjust as needed. The advent of 3D radiation therapy, IMRT and IGRT in the late 1990s, however, ushered in a new era characterized by rapidly evolving technology and a more prominent role for patient images and data. Over the next decade, imaging emerged as a data-glut as sites graduated from x-ray to CT imaging for treatment planning and positioning. Today, the field continues to evolve as sites consider next-generation techniques like adaptive radiation therapy, which centers on real-time treatment planning while the patient is on the table. Insiders predict that adaptive radiation therapy will translate into petabytes of patient data annually. In addition, workflow is increasingly collaborative and image-dependent. The upshot? Radiation oncology requires seamless, robust IT infrastructure. This month, we’re looking at how a pair of cutting-edge practices has assembled the various IT components to create an integrated infrastructure that support workflow and high-quality patient care. [ VolumeView cone-beam CT image showing coronal, sagittal and transverse views acquired by Elekta Synergy. ] it integration on the edge “Lots of centers have invested in individual IT components like an EMR, image servers and treatment planning systems; however, few have tied all of the pieces together,” says Fred Fangman, director of radiation oncology at MIMA Cancer Center in Melbourne, Fla. MIMA has not only tied the pieces together via IT interfaces between treatment planning, treatment delivery and information management systems but also leaped into anytime/ anywhere virtual radiation oncology by investing in Tablet PCs and image-enabled cell phones. Eight months after launching a paperless initiative, the practice is 95 percent paperless. It’s a significant accomplishment for a two-physician department affiliated with a 120-physician comprehensive physician group. Varian Medical Systems ARIA Oncology Information System is the hub of the radiation oncology department. The software provides a repository for images, 14 Health Imaging & IT | September 2008 clinical documentation, scheduling, treatment plans and followups. “Radiation oncologists generate everything electronically now and also sign off in ARIA. ARIA enabled the transition to paperless,” says Fangman. ARIA workstations are located throughout the facility including exam rooms, and a robust wireless infrastructure supports the endeavor. Tablet PCs and image-enabled cell phones let physicians view images and data on the go—and anywhere. The system weds high tech and high touch. Radiation oncologists use Motion Computing Tablets to show patients images—and progress—on a regular basis. When therapists acquire treatment planning images, they email them to physicians’ cell phones equipped with resolution and zooming capabilities that suffice for a quick check and approval. The focus on IT-enabled workflow proved particularly valuable earlier this year when the practice deployed Varian RapidArc volumetric modulated arc therapy, a new treatment technique that reduces treatment time. Prior to RapidArc, a typical MIMA prostate treatment took about 15 minutes. RapidArc slashes treatment time to seven minutes, allowing the radiation oncology department to serve multiple additional patients every day. “We couldn’t do it without IT support. Radiation oncologists cannot HealthImaging.com http://HealthImaging.com

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Health Imaging & IT - September 2008 Table of Contents On the Web The Enterprise News Update Imaging Weighs the Evidence Radiation Oncology Tackles IT Integration PET/CT: Diagnosing Cardiac Disease—Adding Function to Form Modality Update People & Technology In Practice Reader's Resource Technology Outlook

Health Imaging & IT - September 2008

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