Revolutionizing radiation therapy planning with improved efficiency

Cancer care demand continues to rise worldwide, placing significant pressure on healthcare systems. While advancements in cancer treatments, especially newer therapies, have shown promising results, the complexity of cancer care has increased exponentially. According to the US Institute of Medicine, “the demand for cancer services is not just related to the number of cancer patients but is even more substantially impacted by the increasing complexity of cancer care.”^[1] However, radiation therapy remains a standard of care in cancer treatment, with as many as 50 percent of cancer patients still commonly receiving radiation treatment over the course of their illness.^[2] With this in mind, healthcare providers place great emphasis on minimizing the time gap between diagnosis and the initiation of these treatments. Healthcare industry partners, such as GE HealthCare, recognize the crucial need for improving efficiency and coordination of care in oncology and the vital role they can play in improving patient outcomes and delivering optimal cancer treatment.

Although radiation therapy is still a mainstay treatment of high-quality care, cancer care is shifting from disease-focused management to a more personalized treatment approach for each individual patient.^[3] Advances in radiation therapy technologies are helping clinicians deliver more precise and effective cancer treatments.^[4] As an essential component of high-quality cancer care, radiation therapy requires a multidisciplinary approach, striving to determine personalized and optimal treatment strategies through collaborative decision-making among healthcare professionals. Traditionally, this has been a time-consuming, complex process that offered oncology care providers few options for improvement. However, emerging technologies are revolutionizing radiation therapy planning with the introduction of sophisticated radiation oncology care platforms created to streamline the radiation oncology workflow.

Supporting the need to simplify radiation oncology’s complex workflow and integrate information in a new way, GE HealthCare has introduced a fully interoperable radiation therapy collaboration system designed to drive efficiency and precision care in radiation therapy planning and alleviate the overwhelming data workload faced by clinicians in coordinating oncology care.

"We are thrilled to introduce our Intelligent RT care platform, a testament to our unwavering commitment to improving healthcare efficiencies and revolutionizing oncology care,” said Ben Newton, General Manager, Oncology at GE HealthCare. “This holistic patient workflow management tool has the power to transform the way radiation therapy is managed, ultimately benefiting both healthcare staff and patients. The entire care team has simplified access to an intuitive visualization of patients’ history, current status, and upcoming treatments. Intelligent RT empowers healthcare providers to deliver timely, precise care that can positively impact patient outcomes and experiences."

Navigating the complexities of oncology care and radiation therapy

As oncology care continues to evolve with more personalized therapies and treatments, coordinating care to achieve optimal results for each patient is paramount. Every step in the planning process and treatment regimen necessitates the involvement of numerous healthcare providers and a range of interventions over extended periods of time, which can be difficult for clinicians to track, as well as their patients. One study reported that cancer patients, within the first year of treatment, interacted with an average of 28 doctors without even accounting for other healthcare professionals involved in their care.^[5] This level of complexity can pose significant challenges to delivering high-quality, coordinated patient care.

Oncology care providers are tasked not only with treating cancer patients and achieving successful outcomes but also with achieving those goals more effectively and at reduced costs to the healthcare system. In the US, The Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation developed the Oncology Care Model, a new payment and delivery model, which aimed to provide higher quality, more highly coordinated oncology care at the same or lower cost to Medicare.^[6] 

The introduction of outcome-based cancer care quality measures, such as the Oncology Care Model and others, encourage cancer care providers to streamline processes, improve coordination among healthcare professionals, and leverage technological advancements to optimize precision cancer care management and better outcomes for each patient while lowering costs.^[7]

Optimizing solutions for radiation therapy management

Data integration and system compatibility have been contributing factors in achieving improved cancer care coordination until now. In recent years, technology has played a pivotal role in addressing the need for improved efficiency and care coordination in oncology, particularly in the field of radiation therapy. One such example is GE HealthCare's Intelligent RT, a fully interoperable radiation therapy collaboration system designed for holistic patient workflow management. A cutting-edge solution for oncology care providers, it streamlines the entire radiation therapy process, from diagnosis to treatment planning, delivery, and follow-up.

The intelligent system enables the seamless integration of various technologies and systems, including imaging, treatment planning, and electronic medical records. This interoperability facilitates efficient communication and data exchange among different clinicians involved in the radiation therapy management process. By reducing manual tasks and automating processes, the system can significantly enhance workflow efficiency, freeing up time for healthcare professionals to focus on critical patient care.

Envisioning a brighter future for precision medicine and oncology patients

Efficiency and coordination of care in oncology are crucial in meeting the increasing demands of cancer patients worldwide. The complexities of radiation therapy management call for innovative solutions to optimize workflows and improve patient outcomes. Workflow optimization may transform care by enabling seamless collaboration and enhancing efficiency. With innovation, the future of cancer care holds promise, offering hope for patients and healthcare providers alike. By embracing these advancements, precision medicine can be realized and may have the potential to impact the delivery of care.'

 

RELATED CONTENT

Learn more about GE HealthCare’s Intelligent RT, here.

Learn more about GE HealthCare’s radiation oncology solutions, here.

Learn more about GE HealthCare’s oncology solutions, here.

 

DISCLAIMER

Not all products or features are available in all geographies. Check with your local GE HealthCare representative for availability in your country.

 

 

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