title: Radiosurgery scope of practice in Canada: a report of the Canadian association of radiation oncology (CARO) radiosurgery advisory committee.
abstract: Radiosurgery has a long history in Canada. Since the treatment of the first patient at the McGill University Health Center in 1985, radiosurgery programs have been developed from coast to coast. These have included multidisciplinary teams of radiation oncologists, neurosurgeons, medical physicists, radiation technologists and other health professionals. In 2008, the CARO Board of Directors requested that a working group be formed to define the role of the radiation oncologist in the practice of radiosurgery. Taking into account evolving technology, changing clinical practice and current scope of practice literature, the working group made recommendations as to the role of the radiation oncologists. These recommendations were endorsed by the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology board of directors in September 2009 and are present herein. It is recognized that patients benefit from a team approach to their care but it is recommended that qualified radiation oncologists be involved in radiosurgery delivery from patient consultation to follow-up. In addition, radiation oncologists should continue to be involved in the administrative aspects of radiosurgery programs, from equipment selection to ongoing quality assurance/quality improvement.
authors.affiliation: McGill University Health Center, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1A4. david.roberge@muhc.mcgill.ca
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roberge
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ménard
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bauman
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Liam
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mulroy
authors.forename: Arjun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahgal
authors.forename: Shawn
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malone
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McKenzie
authors.forename: Garry
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schroeder
authors.forename: Marie-Andrée
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fortin
authors.forename: Annie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ebacher
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Milosevic
mesh_terms: D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D002170:Canada; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010819:Physician's Role; D018787:Radiation Oncology; D016634:Radiosurgery / Q000379:methods; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery