Software
University Hospital Galway
Soft tissue imaging with 3D ultrasound both at therapy simulation and just before treatment has transformed prostate radiotherapy at University Hospital Galway (UHG). The majority of radiotherapy patients with prostate cancer who visit the clinic will benefit from a new technology that can accurately track the prostate’s position before each treatment. The Elekta Clarity® 3D system provides ultrasound-assisted image guidance to radiation therapy (IGRT), and avoids the additional radiation dose that comes with other IGRT techniques
“The big advantage of Clarity is you’re not adding any radiation dose – you’re getting pictures of the prostate for ‘free,’” says Margaret Moore, UHG’s Head of Radiation Physics. “For planning treatments, CT simulation and Clarity are a great combination. Both modalities add their bit of intelligence to create the certainty that you’re seeing the target.”
Reliably localizing the prostate is critical as its position can change due to bladder and rectal filling, in addition to patient breathing, she adds.
“If you aim the treatment beams at the same spot every day, but the anatomy you want to treat is moving in and out of the spot, then it’s not getting the full dose it should,” Ms. Moore explains. “Clarity allows us to track the prostate’s position before each treatment, and keep the treatment beam on target.”
“In the equipment evaluation, we liked the idea of matching the planning ultrasound to the treatment room ultrasound that Clarity offered,” Ms. Moore recalls. “Other similar IGRT options try to match ultrasound to CT, which could affect alignment accuracy. Clarity also wouldn’t require reconfiguring our linear accelerator – we could integrate the system easily.”
Read more about how radiation oncologists at UHG have been able to use Clarity routinely to fine-tune prostate contouring at: http://www.elekta.com/press/f91e5298-a19c-4efa-82fc-49d2161efd7f/irish-hospital-uses-elekta-s-clarity-3d-ultrasound-to-guide-prostate-cancer-radiotherapy.html.
Availability of MOSAIQ in the Japanese language unites radiation oncology services of two major Japanese medical centers
Elekta’s work to develop a Japanese language version* of MOSAIQ® Oncology Information System (OIS) has resulted in Japan’s first installation of a comprehensive, dedicated OIS at the Institute of Biomedical Research and Innovation (IBRI) in July 2010. A year later, IBRI and Kobe City Medical Center collaborated to implement MOSAIQ in the Japanese language to unify the centers’ radiation oncology services, creating the country’s first multi-department operation.
Before IBRI began using MOSAIQ there were no OIS’s operating in Japan – not even an English language system. IBRI, Kobe City Medical Center used – and other Japanese sites currently employ – one system to control treatment schedules and manage activity codes for payment, and another system for record-and-verify. MOSAIQ presented the opportunity to combine these functions, but the barrier had been the lack of a Japanese language version.
“Not having an OIS in Japanese isn’t that critical to most physicians in Japan, but for therapists, nurses, receptionists and other staff, it simply had to be in the Japanese language,” says Masaki Kokubo, M.D., Director, Division of Radiation Oncology at IBRI.
“The hospitals would not have accepted even MOSAIQ if a Japanese language version wasn’t offered.”
Two centers, one workflow
Since the summer of 2011, MOSAIQ has been coordinating a single workflow between the two centers, which have, through a dedicated network line, integrated four treatment systems – Kobe City’s two Varian linacs and IBRI’s Varian and MHI Vero linacs – in addition to Kobe City’s NEC HIS and IBRI’s Fujitsu HIS. All patient information is centralized in one database, the MOSAIQ server at Kobe City Medical Center.
“Our single workflow is more efficient, and it allows us to use both centers’ treatment machines more effectively, by allocating patients to linacs based on treatment technique or treatment indication,” Dr. Kokubo notes. “This results in less time for one treatment, as similar treatments are concentrated on a given linac. In addition, because MOSAIQ integrates with different treatment systems, the staff doesn’t have to remember different operations for each linac as they did under the previous information system.”
Read more about MOSAIQ in the Japanese language in the February 2012 issue of Wavelength, Elekta’s customer magazine: www.elekta.com/wavelength.
*Elekta also offers MOSAIQ in the Chinese language.
Elekta to accept award for MOSAIQ top ranking in 2011 Best in KLAS Awards
Acknowledging the importance of dedicated information management systems for radiation and medical oncology practices, Elekta will demonstrate the most recent version of its MOSAIQ® Oncology Information System (OIS) at the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s 2012 conference (HIMSS12), Feb. 20-24, in Las Vegas.
MOSAIQ is a comprehensive OIS that centralizes traditional radiation oncology, particle therapy and medical oncology patient data into a single user interface, accessible by multidisciplinary teams across multiple locations. MOSAIQ provides hospitals and oncology staff access to the underlying clinical and administrative data, improving both clinical care and operational efficiency.
Visitors to Elekta booth #1455 will learn how MOSAIQ integrates with a diverse array of hospital systems, treatment devices and imaging systems, increasing accessibility to critical data anytime by remote users on various platforms. MOSAIQ captures the entire patient chart in a common database that users can customize, allowing radiation oncologists and medical oncologists to coordinate care for complex cases. In addition to hospital based centers, MOSAIQ provides all the clinical, administrative and billing needs allowing the stand alone centers to have one, complete, comprehensive oncology system.
MOSAIQ is “Best in KLAS” for 2011
At a HIMSS presentation, MOSAIQ will be recognized for its number one ranking in the recently released 2011 Best in KLAS Awards: Software & Services report. The report is a summary of performance data collected over the past 12 months and ranks the top overall vendors.
“MOSAIQ integrates with hundreds of hospital and laboratory systems at facilities around the world,” says Todd Powell, Executive Vice President, Elekta Software. “We are enormously gratified that our customer respondents in the KLAS survey recognized the value of MOSAIQ for managing their patients’ care. I believe it clearly demonstrates the strengths of the MOSAIQ community and how we collectively develop and support each other in our common goal of effectively managing cancer.”
KLAS’s data are also supported by the U.S. News & World Report 2011-12 best hospital rankings, which indicate that 46 out of the 50 top-ranked cancer hospitals are users of Elekta’s oncology software.
Elekta's recognition program for cancer registrars
Elekta is accepting nominations for the 2012 Cancer Registrar of the Year. Don’t miss this opportunity to demonstrate yourself or a colleague’s excellence and be honored by Elekta during the National Cancer Registrars Association’s 38th Annual Education Conference. The deadline for nominations is Friday, March 16, 2012.
Announced during Elekta’s 2012 Cancer Registry Users Meeting, Wednesday, April 18 in Washington D.C., the program honors outstanding registrars who have made valuable contributions to the success of their registry. It also recognizes those who further expand their contributions to the community and broader organizations.
To nominate yourself or a colleague, visit www.elekta.com/corporate_international_registrar_of_the_year.php. Nominees must be Elekta software customers.
Oncology data analysis software to improve business and clinical operations
With ANALYTIQ Premier, centers can maximally exploit the rich volume of oncology EMR data created daily to enhance operations and uncover revenue opportunities. Captured data is segmented into three major analysis categories: practice management, clinical and financial. A Core function enables creation of visually informative, multi-dimensional data cubes that can facilitate decision-making—such as center expansion, advancement of cancer research and patient care improvements.
A key benefit of ANALYTIQ Premier is data presentation. ANALYTIQ organizes practice management data, financial and clinical data into straightforward color charts, graphs, graphics and worksheets for easy exploration and analysis. Real-time visualization enables quick discovery of data trends, relationships, and anomalies.
Learn more: http://www.elekta.com/healthcare_international_analytiq_premier.php.
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Elekta has 2,760 employees working at 35 offices in 24 countries.
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Elekta has the largest installed base of stereotactic radiosurgery systems in the world, including more than 440 Leksell Gamma Knife® systems and over 120 systems for stereotactic radiation therapy. In addition, more than 1,800 of Elekta’s stereotactic systems are used by over 1,300 clinics worldwide.
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Every year, more than half a million patients receive treatment with radiation therapy equipment from Elekta.
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More than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up facilitated by software systems from Elekta.
Additional facts are available in Elekta’s 2010/11 Annual Report. Take a look by clicking on the below graphic.
- Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion Advanced Program for Stereotactic Radiosurgery September 8, 2015Objective To further enhance the participant’s knowledge of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and its advanced applications in the field of stereotactic radiosurgery. Specific focus will be placed on Gamma Knife surgery with or without the Extend System for several different indications. Patient selection, radiosurgical techniques and complication avoidance as […]
- Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion - Upgrade Program December 10, 2013Objective To receive aspects of clinical and technical training for handling new features of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion, when upgrading from previous models. Training on the dynamic workflow of Leksell GammaPlan includes instruction on using the pre-planning and follow-up features of the program as well as on developing treatment plans using composite sho […]
- Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion - Introductory Program December 8, 2013Objective To identify the basic principles and biophysics of Gamma Knife surgery and how they apply to day-to-day patient treatment. Review the clinical indications, parameters of treatment and outcomes of Gamma Knife surgery. Recognize radiation safety issues and principles, as well as become familiar with emergency procedures that pertain to Leksell Gamma […]
- Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion - Applications Introductory Program November 17, 2013Objective To make users confident in the operation, care and maintenance of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion. The course focuses on radiation physics, dosimetry, stereotaxy for Gamma Knife surgery, quality assurance (QA), technical information and treatment planning using Leksell GammaPlan®. Content ■ Principles of stereotaxy and radiosurgery ■ Prin […]
- Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion / 4C - Introductory Program November 10, 2013Objective To obtain knowledge about the practical aspects of stereotactic radiosurgery using Leksell Gamma Knife. Principles of radiation physics and radiobiology, that apply to single-session, focused, small volume irradiation will be covered. Registrants should be able to create radiosurgery dose plans for various indications. Content ■ Principles a […]
- Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion Clinical Introductory Program October 6, 2013Objective To introduce clinicians to Gamma Knife® surgery with Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and Extend™ System. The course focuses on clinical information, combined with hands-on sessions using Leksell GammaPlan®. Experts with years of experience from Gamma Knife surgery are selected to lecture on this course. Training center and duration 4-day course at Un […]
- XiO - Application December 16, 2012OBJECTIVE To provide applications training in the use of XiO for treatment planning. The course provides an understanding of the software enabling the user to efficiently create effective treatment plans using our product. COURSE CONTENT Structure Contouring Digitized Contour-based Planning 2D Irregular Field Planning 3D External Beam Planning Special Plann […]
- XiO IMRT December 9, 2012Objective To provide applications training in IMRT treatment planning utilizing the Xio Treatment Planning System. The course provides an understanding of the IMRT software enabling the user to efficiently create effective IMRT treatment plans using our product. Course Content Contouring for IMRT Planning Beam Placement IMRT Prescription Optimization Segme […]
- SRT December 9, 2012OBJECTIVE This advanced clinical training program is designed to present the processes required to implement SRT for routine treatment on Elekta Axesse™ and other Elekta linear accelerators sterotactic capabilities. COURSE CONTENT • Recognize indications for and outcomes of SRT/Radiosurgery • Understand dose selection, fractionation and planning techniqu […]
- Monaco December 9, 2012OBJECTIVE To provide applications training in advanced radiobiology-based IMRT treatment planning. The course provides an understanding of the IMRT software enabling the user to efficiently create effective IMRT treatment plans using our product. COURSE CONTENT Contouring / Image Fusion for IMRT Planning Beam Template Creation The IMRT Prescription IMRT Co […]