title: Patterns of change in the physics and technical support of radiation therapy in the USA 1975-1986.
abstract: Information on the patterns of personnel and related equipment support and availability at various types of radiation oncology facilities are included in the Facilities Master List surveys conducted by the American College of Radiology. This paper summarizes the surveyed data obtained during 1975-1986. The data presented include the use of equipment and the degree of personnel support at government owned, hospital or university based, and freestanding facilities. There is increasing use of linear accelerators, simulators, and treatment planning computers among all types of facilities. The use of 60Co units has been progressively decreasing. Almost all types of facilities show inadequate, but slowly improving, numbers of physicians, physicists, dosimetrists, and technologists when compared with the level recommended by the Blue Book.
authors.affiliation: University of Pennsylvania, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia.
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Diamond
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: G E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Hanks
mesh_terms: D006268:Health Facilities / Q000639:trends*; D058016:Health Facility Administration; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce