QI in Radiation Therapy:

1
QI in Radiation Therapy
SYDNEY RADIOTHERAPY AND ONCOLOGY CENTRE

• You dont have
• to climb Everest!!

Marianne Rinks Chief Radiation Therapist Sydney
Radiotherapy Oncology Centre
2
Overview

• Acknowledge Contributors
• Clinical Practice Improvement Framework/Model
• Examples of QI initiatives at NCCC Westmead
• Issues for Management
• Summary

3
Contributors

• Nepean Cancer Care Centre
• Natalie Coburn Diane Tramontana Radiation
  Therapy
• Dr Mary Dwyer Radiation Oncology
• Joanne Rose Reception
• Anita Heinrichsen Nursing
• Edgar Estoesta Medical Physics
• Lou Orszulak Quality Officer
• Westmead Radiation Oncology
• Jill Lewis Nicole Hogendoorn, Westmead
  Radiation Oncology

4
Clinical Practice Improvement (CPI)

• Focus on processes not individuals

• Improvement vs Research
• Model/structure
• Identify issue and establish the aims
• Review current processes (measure)
• Plan interventions
• Test/measure Impact
• Check Sustainability

Ref NSW Health, (2001), The Clinician's Toolkit
for Improving Patient Care, p.27
5
NCCC CPI Project
6
Patient Awareness of RT Process
7
Routine Patients Waiting Time
8
Issues for Management

• Support/Commitment from Management
• Culture within the organisation
• Commitment to facilitating QI processes
• Involvement of key stakeholders
• Medical, Allied Health, Admin staff
• Patients/carers
• Small initiatives/changes
• Every little bit can count
• Build upon your successes

9
Summary

• You dont need to climb Everest to make a
  difference
• BUT You do need
• A commitment to adopt innovation and facilitate
  change
• A structured model/mechanism to do so
• Support
• Improving quality of care for our patients

10
Acknowledgements

• NSW Cancer Council
• Dr Colin Bull, Radiation Oncology Network
• Drs Foster, Sun Adler, Sydney Radiotherapy
  Oncology Centre