Radiation Oncology News Briefs
SABR Proves An Effective Treatment for Older Adults With NSCLC
Study Finds Staging for Oropharyngeal Cancer ‘Inadequate’
New Tax Relief Law Affects Final Medicare Payment Rates
Cancer Mortality Decreases Steadily in U.S.
NCI Research Initiative Targets Cancer Screening
Phase I Trial Shows Slight Promise for Carbon-Ion Radiation Therapy for Treating Pancreatic Cancer
Uninsured Patients With Brain Tumors Face Higher Mortality Rates
SABR Proves Effective for Elderly Patients With NSCLC
U.S. Justice Department Orders Baylor University to Pay $907,355
Study Compares SBRT to Surgery for Stage I Lung Cancer
Studies Suggest Survival Advantage for Older Patients Undergoing SABR for Lung Cancer
Institutional Study Assesses the Effects of New Technology on Radiation Safety in the United States
CMS Adds Second Radiation Therapist for IMRT and Reduces Cuts to Radiation Oncology Services
Delay in Radiation Therapy for Uterine Cancer Reduces Local Control
Trial Assesses Shorter Treatment Course for Early-stage Breast Cancer
Small Study Indicates Robotic SBRT Provides Effective Local Control
Researchers Study Naming Conventions for Radiation Therapy Targets and At-risk Organs
Communication and Quality Top List of Study Needs in Radiation Oncology
Radiation Therapy Aids Patients With NCLSC Nodal Metastasis
Face-down Radiation Treatments May Provide Better Outcomes for Patients With Breast Cancer
CMS Updates ABN Guidance
Toxicity Low Among Patients With Gynecologic Cancers Who Undergo Post-operative IMAT
Genetic Mutations Point to Four Medulloblastoma Strains
AHRQ Assesses Effects of Bundled Payments on Quality and Costs
IMRT Proves Superior to Proton Beam and Conformal Therapies for Treating Prostate Cancer
Practitioners Work as Private Contractors and Apply Time Credits to Aid Patients in Maine Multispecialty Practice
CMS Offers Advice on Assembling an ICD 10 Team
Plant Protein Shows Promise in Treating Melanoma
CMS Proposed Cuts in 2013 Target IMRT and SBRT
Study Indicates Some Children With Hodgkin Lymphoma Can Bypass Radiation Therapy
Version 5010 Enforcement Discretion Period Ends This Week
Teens to 20s Cancer Survivors Face More Chronic Health Problems and Unhealthy Behaviors
Preoperative Radiation Plus Chemo Improve Survival in Esophageal Cancer
AHRQ Announces Beta Test Results for Health IT Hazard Management Software
Childhood Neglect Increases Risk of Stress Adulthood Skin Cancer
High Risk of GI Cancers Found In Latest Study of Childhood Cancer Survivors
Study Deepens Understanding of Gene Regulation in Brain Tumors
ViewRay MRI-Guided Radiation Therapy System Receives Premarket Clearance in the United States
Prostate Cancer Treatments Drive Increased Use of Proton Therapy Between 2006 to 2009
Reduced-dose Radiation Therapy Added to Chemotherapy Proves Effective for Low-risk Rhabdomyosarcoma
Massachusetts Medical Society Launches Pilot Aimed at Reducing Medical Liability
SBRT Superior to Surgery for Treating Lung Cancer Complicated by COPD
Chemo Plus Radiation Therapy More Effectively Treats Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer
Poll Finds Health Care Facilities Struggling With ‘Meaningful Use’ Compliance
Study on Workload Stressors in Radiation Oncology Emphasizes Safety Aspect
Florida-based Health Plan and Georgia Radiation Oncology Practice Agree to Settle Multimillion Claims by the U.S. Department of Justice
CMS Delays Implementation of ICD-10 Until October 2014
HPV-positive Head and Neck Cancers Appear More Sensitive to Radiation Therapy
2012 AHRQ Survey on Hospital Safety Indicates Strength in "Teamwork"
Irradiated Melanoma Lesion Yields Distant Results in One Patient
Version 5010 Billing Discretionary Period Ends March 31
Cancer Death Rates Decrease Among American Men and Women From 1990 to 2007
Patients Balance Cost and Perceived Quality of Health Care
Latest Study Indicates Prevalence of “Chemo Brain”
Study Casts Doubt on Efficacy of Radiation Therapy Following Lung Cancer Surgery
Genetic Syndrome Strongly Tied to Breast and Pancreatic Cancers
HHS Announces Intent to Delay ICD-10 Implementation
U.S. Touts Record $4.1 Billion Recovery of Fraudulent Health Care Payments in 2011
Study Finds Small Margin of Error in Preventing Rectal Bleeding From Seeded Brachytherapy
FDA Reaches Agreement on Medical Device User Fees
Gene in Brain Tumor Increases Response to Radiation Therapy Combined with Chemo
Trial Indicates No Long-term Benefit Associated With Yearly Prostate Cancer Screening
Growth in Public and Private Spending on U.S. Health Care Falls During 2009 and 2010
Fibroblasts Believed to Spur Melanoma Tumor Growth
Study Highlights Possible Side Effects Associated With Combining Radiation and Targeted Drugs
CMS/HHS Issue Interim Rules for Payer Updates of Electronic Funds Transfer, HIPAA Standards
Offspring of Adult Childhood Cancer Survivors Face Lesser Genetic Risk From Treatments Than Believed
Scientists Attempt to Double the Efficacy of Radiation Therapy to Reduce Its Side Effects
Study on Hospital Quality Reporting Provides Insight Into the Who, What They Have to Say and Why it Matters
CMS Emphasizes Need for All HIPAA-Covered Facilities to Prepare for Version 5010 Change
Toxic Effects of Radiation Limit Effectiveness in Treating Early-stage Hodgkin’s Lymphoma
Affordable Care Act’s Latest Regulation Requires Insurers Spend 80 Percent of Premiums on Care, or Rebate Difference
Study Highlights an Increased Prescription Error Rate After Updating an Electronic Health Records System
CMS Firm on January 5010 Transition Even With Discretion Period
U.S. Residents Pay More for Health Care Yet Cannot Claim Longer Life Span
A Preliminary Study With Mice Indicates Probiotics Can Protect Intestines During Radiation Therapy
Acupuncture Relieves Dry Mouth for Patients Undergoing Radiation Treatments for Head and Neck Cancers
Radiation Post-lumpectomy Significantly Improves Survival, Delays Recurrence of Breast Cancer
FDA Offers Insight Into Medical Device Quality Issues and Adverse Events
Osteosclerosis on CT Scans Indicates Rib Fracture Risk Associated With SRT for Lung Cancer
ASTRO Offers White Paper on Quality and Safety of Stereotactic Procedures
Med-Pac Questions Growing Number of EHR Quality Measures
Drug May Alleviate Effects of Radiation Therapy for Patients With Rare Blood Disorder
CMS Offers an Interactive Timeline Widget for the Version 5010 and ICD-10 Transitions
Study in NCI Cancer Bulletin Questions Why Negative Results From Phase III Trials Go Unpublished
CMS Issues Final Rule on eRx Incentive Program
New York Times Reporter Walt Bogdanich Speaks about Medical Radiation Errors
FDA Attempts to Clarify the Benefit-Risk Determination for Medical Devices
Fox Chase Cancer Center Study Shows IMRT Effective for
Six Sigma Tools and Checklist Aid Improvements in Radiation Therapy Oversight
U.S. FDA Considers Revising Process for Changes to Existing Devices
Six Sigma Tools and Checklist Aid Improvements in Radiation Therapy Oversight
U.S. FDA Considers Revising Process for Changes to Existing Devices
Medicare Billing for Breast Cancer IMRT Increases Ten-fold
Almost Half of American Women With Advanced Breast Cancer Do not Undergo Recommended Radiation Therapy
Study Analyzes the Effects of IMRT and IGRT on the Heart Following Treatment for Left-sided Breast Cancer
SROA Calls on Members to Support CARE Bill Introduced in 112th Congress
CMS/HHS Propose Additional Revisions to eRx Incentives
Radiation Therapy Improves Survival for Patients With Extrapulmonary Small Cell Cancers
CMS Provides Guidance on GEMS in Transitioning to ICD-10 Codes
Sleep Problems Affect Reasoning and Thinking Into Adulthood for Children Cancer Survivors
New York Radiation Oncology Group Proposes Safety Plan for Treatments
AHRQ Updates Policy on Data and Safety Monitoring in Studies With Greater Potential Harm
Children Fare Better in Trials When Radiation Oncologist Follows Protocol
Researchers Isolate Oncogene That Initiates Radiation-resistance in Tumors
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SROA Advocacy Patient Safety Questions
The recent series of New York Times articles about safety lapses and regulatory shortfalls in the radiation oncology field is likely to have created some unwarranted concern among patients who are candidates for radiation treatment. Although each radiation therapy treatment team has many safety checks and procedures to ensure that each treatment is given as planned, some patients and caregivers might have technical questions about radiation therapy. For those interested in the technical aspects of radiation, SROA has prepared questions (and responses) a patient may wish to ask their radiation oncologist about quality assurance at the program they will be receiving therapy. Please talk to your patients about the safety protocols at your facility. You also can encourage patients to visit www.rtanswers.org for a list of questions they might wish to ask about their treatments. SROA's Advocacy Committee has compiled patient safety questions and answers so your practice will be ready to ease patient concerns.
Click Here to Download SROA's Patient Safety Questions and Answers.
For more on patient safety view ASTRO's six-point patient safety plan. Click Here to view ASTRO's six point plan.
The SROA Advocacy Committee prepared a statement, which Congressman Myrick will introduce at the House Subcommittee on Health hearing on Medical Radiation - An Overview of the Issues, February 26, 2010.
SROA Supports ASTRO Response to New York Times Stereotactic Surgery Article
Dec. 28, 2010, New York Times article on stereotactic surgery overdoses, several instances of tragic injuries were reported and the profession taken to task for a continuing lack of oversight. The article, "A Pinpoint Beam Strays Invisibly, Harming Instead of Healing," stated that nothing had been done to establish a central database for reporting misadministration overdoses, despite the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) calling for its establishment. Read more ...
New York Times Addresses Quality of Radiation Treatment
The New York Times has published recently several articles on radiation therapy.
Responses from major professional societies: ASTRO;
ASRT; AAPM; and SROA.
Click here for additional talking points regarding the safety of radiation therapy.
Safety in Radiation Therapy — A Call to Action" — Meeting Overview
Click Here to download
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