VA is working with the American Society for Radiation Oncology
(ASTRO) and Washington University to provide radiation oncologists for the
first time with continuous feedback on the progress of cancer therapy.
“We are pleased to be working with this country’s
leading-class organizations on this innovative program, the first of its kind
nationwide. Our Veterans deserve nothing less,” said Dr. Maureen McCarthy, VA
acting assistant deputy undersecretary for health and patient care services.
Radiation is one of the three major treatments for cancer
along with surgery and chemotherapy, with about 60% of cancer patients
receiving radiation therapy. In recent years, there have been substantial
clinical and technical advances in radiation oncology, resulting in new
regimens with increased survival and improved quality of life.
Under ROPA, data will be abstracted from the VA’s
highly-sophisticated electronic medical record (EMR) system and the treatment
management systems used to control radiation therapy delivery. Feedback reports
will be provided to VA radiation oncologists with a detailed analysis of each
patient treatment compared against national standards.
Combined with the traditional cancer outcome measures of
recurrence and patient survival, this assessment will provide the oncologist
with a complete picture of the accuracy of each patient’s therapy and the
patient’s response to therapy.
Washington University is excited to take the lead role in
managing the program. “We have significant experience working with the National
Cancer Institute to provide the platform we will use for these assessments. We
are excited to bring that experience to bear on this landmark project on behalf
of our nation’s Veterans,” said Jeff Michalski, MD, Washington University’s
vice-chair of radiation oncology.
“We are also pleased to engage a local radiation oncology
informatics company, Radialogica LLC, who will provide a platform and services
for data security, extraction and management.”
In the first year of the project, ASTRO’s disease-site
specific experts will review measures for prostate and lung cancers,
identifying metrics from the EMR to assess each one.
“ASTRO is deeply committed to improving the quality of cancer
care for our Veterans and all Americans. Our cancer experts are enthusiastic
about this new opportunity to better measure and enhance radiation delivery
with the goal of producing high quality patient outcomes,” said Bruce D.
Minsky, MD, FASTRO, chair of ASTRO’s Board of Directors.
Once ROPA is fully implemented, VA radiation oncologists will
receive continuously updated electronic peer reviews of each patient’s cancer
evaluation, treatment and treatment outcome.
Currently, VA hospitals, similar to community hospitals, use
traditional, sporadic peer-reviews in a process referred to as On-going
Professional Peer Evaluation (OPPE). ROPA peer reviews go well beyond the
traditional OPPE and practice accreditation to create comprehensive,
patient-centered reports in a web-based environment. VA radiation oncologists
will see how changes in their clinical practice impact the success of each
Veteran’s cancer treatment.
ABOUT ASTRO
ASTRO is the premier radiation oncology society in the world, with nearly 11,000 members who are physicians, nurses, biologists, physicists, radiation therapists, dosimetrists and other health care professionals who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As the leading organization in radiation oncology, the Society is dedicated to improving patient care through professional education and training, support for clinical practice and health policy standards, advancement of science and research, and advocacy. ASTRO publishes three medical journals, International Journal of Radiation Oncology • Biology • Physics (www.redjournal.org), Practical Radiation Oncology (www.practicalradonc.org) and Advances in Radiation Oncology (www.advancesradonc.org); developed and maintains an extensive patient website, RT Answers (www.rtanswers.org); and created the Radiation Oncology Institute (www.roinstitute.org), a nonprofit foundation to support research and education efforts around the world that enhance and confirm the critical role of radiation therapy in improving cancer treatment. To learn more about ASTRO, visit www.astro.org.
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