AlignRT InBore: Increased Efficiency for Bore-Based System
Overview
Institution Type: Academic Hospital
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
SGRT System: AlignRT InBore
Years with system: 3 years
Linac: Varian Ethos
Cancer types treated: Prostate
GOALS
Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center (DFBCC) was an early adopter of AlignRT on their linear accelerators. They were able to improve their workflows and treat patients more efficiently without tattoos and marks. They wanted the same efficiency, accuracy and monitoring for their bore-based system. Specifically, they needed to monitor the patient inside the bore to detect any movement the human eye might not capture.
SAFETY
DFBCC learned through their adoption of AlignRT on their linear accelerators that patients can move after setting them up.
They wanted a solution that monitored their patients from beginning to end of treatments to ensure safety.
EFFICIENCY
With the growth of their Genitourinary program (GU), DFBCC treats 40-60 patients a day on their bore-based system.
They needed an SGRT solution that would help them keep the same treatment times and efficiency with their prostate and bladder patients.
CLINICAL INNOVATION
DFBCC is recognized by U.S. News & World Report as one of the nation’s top five cancer centers. Clinical innovation is at the forefront of their mission. They needed technology that would help give their patients cutting-edge treatments with the best possible outcomes.
SOLUTION
ALIGNRT INBORE
Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center chose the AlignRT lnBore system to specially monitor patients inside the bore to detect any movement the human eye might not capture (i.e., patient arm shift, cough, sneezing).
POSTURAL VIDEO & REAL TIME COACH
The real-time video feed gives DFBCC staff guidance from multiple angles, letting them know when and where the patient is out of position. It also helped minimize their setup time and stay consistent with their patient volume. Real Time Coach was used to assist patients visualize their breath, knowing when to breath in and out, during their advanced procedures (LIBH).
SITE VISIT
DFBCC visited a Vison RT Centers of Excellence to train on how AlignRT was implemented in their clinic and the team approach they took to establish best practices. This, along with participation in an SGRT annual meeting, helped adoption of SGRT technology and tattoo and mark-free treatment.
RESULTS
10-MINUTE TIME SLOTS
INCREASED PATIENT VOLUME
Patient volume of 40-60 patients per day was able to be maintained, helping manage the GU one-year program growth of 32%.
REDUCED RE-IMAGING
Using AlignRT lnBore helped reduce re-imaging by 50%, helping reduce treatment times and maintain time slots.
TATTOO & MARK-FREE TREATMENTS
DFBCC adopted totally tattoo and mark-free treatment for all their patients.
“We know patients can be really tense when you’re setting them up for treatment. Prior to SGRT we would chase shifts, and not take into account that patients relax and re-adjust after set-up. We couldn’t always measure if our patients moved a millimeter or a degree. Now, with AlignRT InBore monitoring the patients inside the bore, we know if they moved. That alone should make you want a system like this.”
Michelle Physic, RT(T) Director of Radiation Therapy, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Brigham Cancer Center
FUTURE PLAN
Dana-Farber/Brigham Cancer Center is now offering Adaptive Radiotherapy and introducing Lower Inspiration Breath Hold (LIBH), a technique used for breast treatment in which dose is reduced to the heart and lungs. The main goal of LIBH is to stop the internal organ motion to improve image quality thereby improving contouring. AlignRT InBore has been essential to this technique workflow to capture a breath hold during treatment delivery.
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