How do we bring an acceptable level of radiotherapy services to a dispersed population?
Radiotherapy referral data from four Australian States confirm that access difficulties contribute to low radiotherapy utilization rates. Access could be improved by the provision of further small treatment centres in moderately large rural or semi-rural population centres. Such a policy, however, could endanger existing standards of radiotherapeutic care unless the potential pitfalls of such an approach are addressed prospectively.
Denham
J W
JW
Department of Radiation Oncology, Newcastle Mater Misericordiae Hospital, New South Wales, Australia.
D001315:Australia; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012423:Rural Health