Engaging the Health Care Professional

There is no shortage of discussion surrounding the importance of achieving a highly engaged workforce in health care institutions. Despite the abundance of idealisms surrounding the importance of providing patient-centered care, some medical radiation technologists may consider this to be a contradiction, when they themselves do not feel valued or empowered by their employer. In addition, overwhelming evidence points to the fact that high employee engagement is directly linked to positive patient experiences and outcomes. Logically, it then follows that much attention should be paid to fully engaging health care teams. Highly engaged medical radiation technologists are more likely to provide personalized patient-centered care. Health care leaders can help to engage their teams by using effective behavioral and leadership styles that will be received favourably by most staff. With the evolution of the generations occupying the workplace, managers must adapt and vary their leadership styles, if they hope to effectively engage their teams and provide world-class patient-centered care.     

Balancing Projects and Operations to Improve Organizational Capability

Radiation therapy projects are necessary to improve organizational performance, implement new technology, and integrate evidence-based practices into the clinical environment. Although large-scale projects may have dedicated resources, relatively smaller scale projects may instead redirect resources from operational activities. This article explores how to facilitate continuous improvement by applying project management principles to health care projects at the level of the clinical team or department. Concepts described will focus on understanding the operational value of projects, common project management methodologies that can be applied, and strategies to resource smaller scale projects while continuing to meet operational demands.     

Utilizing Quality Improvement Methods to Examine the Radiation Therapy Pathway for Patients Requiring Palliative Radiation Therapy at a Community Cancer Center

BackgroundAt a community cancer center, during weekly quality improvement huddles, the radiation therapy team expressed stress and frustration with the pretreatment pathway for patients requiring palliative radiotherapy. As the department was meeting provincial targets with respect to wait times, it was unknown why the consensus around the department reflected discomfort and stress.MethodsFour radiation therapists formed a quality improvement project team, intent on utilizing a data-driven improvement cycle to investigate and address opportunities to improve the discomfort around this pretreatment pathway. After defining the process and identifying the customers (the health care providers operating in this pathway), the team conducted interviews with each person, transcribing answers verbatim, and grouping results by discipline. Utilizing the interview themes, each discipline identified one or two priorities to measure, as well as metrics to capture the magnitude and prevalence of these priorities.ResultsEach discipline's priorities were measured and analyzed. The identified issues brought forward at the weekly quality improvement huddles were not as prevalent as expected. Minor changes were implemented for priority issues.ConclusionThe team focused on the four principles of quality improvement: the patient, team, process, and data to address the expressed discomfort around this specific radiation therapy pathway. The results dispelled some of the myths among teams and provided solutions to areas where minor improvements were required. Utilizing the data, an evidence-informed timeline was validated, encouraging task deadlines to be more evenly distributed across the pathway. Plans to monitor this pathway are being established. The team was successful in contributing to a growing culture of continuous improvement at this community cancer center.     

养阴清热化瘀方对急性放射性肺炎大鼠TLR-4/NF-κB信号通路的影响

目的:探讨养阴清热化瘀方对大鼠急性放射性肺炎的防护作用及可能机制。方法:采用随机数字表法将48只雌性Wistar大鼠随机分为空白对照组(NC)、模型组(MD)、养阴清热化瘀方提前干预组(YHF-EI)及养阴清热化瘀方组(YHF-ST),分别于照射后4周时采集血清及取出右肺。观察大鼠的一般情况,应用HE染色观察肺组织病理改变,ELISA法检测血清中含量, RT-PCR和Western-blotting法分别检测肺组织内TLR4、NF-κB p65 mRNA和蛋白的水平。结果:养阴清热化瘀方能显著减轻大鼠放射性肺炎的炎症表现; 与空白对照组比较,血清中TNF-α、IL-6、TGF-β的含量升高,TLR4和NF-κB p65 mRNA转录活性增强,肺组织中TLR4和NF-κB p65的蛋白表达水平升高; 与模型组比较,两组养阴清热化瘀方组血清中TNF-α、IL-6、TGF-β的含量降低,TLR4和NF-κB p65 mRNA转录活性下降,肺组织中TLR4和NF-κB p65的蛋白表达水平降低。结论:养阴清热化瘀方可能通过抑制“TLR4/NF-κB”信号通路,从而抑制TNF-α、IL-6、TGF-β的产生,起到抵抗放射性肺炎的发生,从而发挥放射防护作用。     

养阴清肺汤对急性放射性口腔炎患者免疫功能、炎症细胞因子的影响

目的观察养阴清肺汤治疗急性放射性口腔炎的临床疗效及其对患者免疫功能和炎症细胞因子的影响。方法患者100例,按照随机数字表法分为治疗组与对照组各50例,两组均采用西医常规治疗,治疗组在对照组治疗基础上加用养阴清肺汤,两组疗程均持续到放疗结束后2~4周。观察两组临床疗效,治疗前后两组唾液中γ-干扰素(IFN-γ)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、白细胞介素-6(IL-6)及白细胞介素-8(IL-8)水平及两组治疗前后免疫功能指标(CD3^+、CD4^+、CD8^+、CD4^+/CD8^+)的变化情况。结果治疗组总有效率为92.00%,显著高于对照组的76.00%(P<0.05)。治疗组症状体征、唾液炎症细胞因子、相关免疫功能指标恢复程度均优于对照组(P<0.05)。结论养阴清肺汤可有效缓解急性放射性口腔炎的疼痛和黏膜损伤程度,加速患者伤口愈合,有效抑制急性放射性口腔炎的相关炎症细胞因子。     

The Financial Impact on Reimbursement of Moderately Hypofractionated Postoperative Radiation Therapy for Breast Cancer: An International Consortium Report

AimsModerately hypofractionated breast irradiation has been evaluated in several prospective studies, resulting in wide acceptance of shorter treatment protocols for postoperative breast irradiation. Reimbursement for radiation therapy varies between private and public systems and between countries, impacting variably financial considerations in the use of hypofractionation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the financial impact of moderately hypofractionated breast irradiation by reimbursement system in different countries.Materials and methodsThe study was designed by an international group of radiation oncologists. A web-questionnaire was distributed to representatives from each country. The participants were asked to involve the financial consultant at their institution.ResultsData from 13 countries from all populated continents were collected (Europe: Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, UK; North America: Canada, USA; South America: Brazil; Africa: South Africa; Oceania: Australia; Asia: Israel, Taiwan). Clinicians and/or departments in most of the countries surveyed (77%) receive remuneration based on the number of fractions delivered to the patient. The financial loss per patient estimated resulting from applying moderately hypofractionated breast irradiation instead of conventional fractionation ranged from 5–10% to 30–40%, depending on the healthcare provider.ConclusionAlthough a generalised adoption of moderately hypofractionated breast irradiation would allow for a considerable reduction in social and economic burden, the financial loss for the healthcare providers induced by fee-for-service remuneration may be a factor in the slow uptake of these regimens. Therefore, fee-for-service reimbursement may not be preferable for radiation oncology. We propose that an alternative system of remuneration, such as bundled payments based on stage and diagnosis, may provide more value for all stakeholders.