title: Utilisation review of radiation oncology practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To collect data on the operation of two private radiation oncology practices which operate linear accelerators in order to compare their patterns of practice with that of the practice of a public teaching hospital radiation oncology department.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of practice records and collection of data on the utilisation of the respective radiation oncology practices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Patient data was analysed to provide a "summarised" profile of treatment of the major cancers, by primary site, for each practice. Problems were encountered in adapting existing records at the various centres in order to obtain compatible data for comparison. The study demonstrated the need for adequate and consistent data to be collected by Australian radiation oncology facilities so that valid comparisons of practice patterns can be undertaken.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Centre Perth, Sydney/Melbourne.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Shepherd
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Yuile
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D009684:Nuclear Medicine Department, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011331:Private Practice / Q000592:standards*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data