title: The electronification of the radiation oncology treatment cycle: the promises and pitfalls of a digital department.
abstract: Radiation oncology departments are becoming more complex in terms of documentation, calculation, and delivery of therapy. Automation of such processes minimizes the likelihood of human error in each, and is clearly the direction in which the discipline is heading. The patient treatment cycle should be seamlessly integrated; unfortunately this is seldom the case given the different systems involved. We describe the Emory University experience, with cautions provided based on our lessons learned.
authors.affiliation: Radiation Oncology Department, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. peter@radonc.emory.org
authors.forename: Adam W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Nowlan
authors.forename: Anna Iwinski
authors.initials: AI
authors.lastname: Sutter
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Peter A S
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Johnstone
mesh_terms: D005544:Forecasting; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science; D011786:Quality Control; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000592:standards* / Q000639:trends*; D011873:Radiology Information Systems; D011880:Radiotherapy Planning, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends; D011881:Radiotherapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000592:standards / Q000639:trends*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018511:Systems Integration; D014481:United States