Creating a radiation oncology oriented safety culture within a large oncology practice: Lessons learned.

Authors

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Ajay Dubey

Texas Oncology, Dallas, TX

Ajay Dubey, Jeff Bernard, Bret Heintz, Kyle Antes, Stacy Hartman, Bernard Taylor, Brennan Scott Cheek, Jeffrey Limmer, Lalan S. Wilfong, John Russell Hoverman

Organizations

Texas Oncology, Dallas, TX, Texas Oncology, Fort Worth, TX, Texas Oncology, Longview, TX

Research Funding

Other

Background: Texas Oncology (TXO) is a dedicated oncology practice consisting of more than 400 physicians and 57 radiation oncologists at 52 sites of service. In order to enhance communications of the rad onc team, establish accountability by using metrics, and engage continuous improvement, we initiated a program to establish regional quality committees in each radiation oncology practice site. Methods: In 2015, the TXO leadership approved the formation of Regional Quality Committees (RQC) at each site. The key members of each RQC include a Physician Chair, a Physicist Co-Chair, Chief Therapist, Radiation Safety Officer, Dosimetrist, and Nurse. Meeting frequency was recommended monthly, but quarterly meetings were required. Meeting documentation reporting was required including a formal agenda, minutes for items discussed, and listing of attendees. Metrics with regard to RQC activities were reported and recorded beginning in 2016. The 2016 Action plan for the RQC at each site included documentation of timeout procedure, regular chart rounds, new patient conference, as well as a mortality and morbidity conference. Results: See table. Conclusions: Within 3 calendar quarters, a functional RQC was established in all 52 radiation oncology practice sites within TXO. Compliance with the action plan was high with regard to action items not requiring multiple physician participants (RQC committee, timeout, chart rounds, CQI projects, performance metrics). Compliance was lower in activities that required multiple physician participation. Verbal feedback was positive regarding the RQC program. Respecting time demands of physicians, education, and communication were identified as key success factors in the RQC program.

SiteEstablish RQC
Committee
Quality
Improvement
Timeout
Procedure
Establish and
Document Regular
Chart Rounds
Establish and
Document Regular
NP Conference
Establish and
Document
Quarterly
M&M
Quality
Improvement
Identify
Two Rad
CQI Projects
Complete and Report
Performance
Metrics
1st2nd3rd
Total Compliance100%100%98%86%62%100%98%100%100%95%
As of 9/30/2016

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2017 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A: Cost, Value, and Policy in Quality; Practice of Quality

Track

Cost, Value, and Policy in Quality,Practice of Quality

Sub Track

Learning from Projects Done in a Practice

Citation

J Clin Oncol 35, 2017 (suppl 8S; abstract 85)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2017.35.8_suppl.85

Abstract #

85

Poster Bd #

D2

Abstract Disclosures