Communication is Key: Changing How Patients Receive Their CT Simulation Appointments to Improve Utilization of Radiation Therapy Services

CTsim is a vital first step in the radiation therapy (RT) process. Delays in the acquisition of a CTsim scan result in delays in the start of treatment, with the potential for a negative impact on local control. “No shows” and patients requiring rebooking after attending without proper dietary and bower/bladder preparation wastes hospital resources. It also negatively impacts on the patient experience, and decreases patients' trust in the system. The aim of this quality improvement project was to decrea se the number of no-shows and improperly prepared patients at CTsim using several Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles.
Source: Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences - Category: Radiology Authors: Source Type: research