Reduction of radiation safety incident reporting following implementation of the radiation oncology incident learning system (RO-ILS).

Authors

null

Carl Nelson

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT

Carl Nelson, Lori Ann Roy, H. James Wallace

Organizations

University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, University of Vermont Medical Center, Burlington, VT, Fletcher Allen Health Care, Burlington, VT

Research Funding

Other

Background: The Radiation Oncology Incident Learning System (RO-ILS) was initiated nationally June 2014 and is free, web-based, and currently used in more than 425 U.S. radiation facilities. RO-ILS was implemented at University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) in October 2016 to facilitate safer, higher quality care. This implementation of RO-ILS was reviewed in order to determine whether the conversion to a new reporting system at UVMMC impacted radiation incident reporting at our institution. Methods: Radiation safety reporting at UVMMC included radiation incidents submitted by radiation therapists, dosimetrists and medical physics. Prior to RO-ILS, safety/quality incidents were submitted via a specified reporting form and submissions were reviewed monthly by the Radiation Oncology Quality Committee. After implementation of RO-ILS, radiation safety incidents were entered in RO-ILS and reviewed by the UVMMC RO-ILS administrator. Radiation incidents reported prior to October 2016 were entered into RO-ILS with the initial safety incident date. Results: Between April 2014 and May 2018, 136 radiation safety incidents were reported. There was a median of 7 incidents reported per quarter, decreasing from 8 to 6 per quarter after RO-ILS was implemented. Similarly, the average incidents per quarter was 8 and decreased from 8.9 to 6.7 per quarter after RO-ILS was implemented. Radiation incident types reported prior to RO-ILS were 78% “Near Miss” events but after RO-ILS decreased to 34%, while “Operational/Process Improvement” incidents increased from 17% pre RO-ILS to 49% post RO-ILS. The rate of radiation incidents reported per new patient starting radiation (the most frequent process associated with reported radiation incidents) was 0.59% and showed no significant trends or shifts before or after implementation of RO-ILS. Conclusions: Following implementation of RO-ILS at UVMMC, reported radiation incidents per quarter and the proportion of “Near Miss” events decreased, while the percentage of “Process Improvement” submissions increased. Further training and awareness of RO-ILS is planned with the goal of increasing staff participation and more robust reporting.

Disclaimer

This material on this page is ©2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology, all rights reserved. Licensing available upon request. For more information, please contact licensing@asco.org

Abstract Details

Meeting

2018 ASCO Quality Care Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session B: Projects Relating to Patient Experience; Projects Relating to Safety; Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care

Track

Projects Relating to Patient Experience,Projects Relating to Safety,Technology and Innovation in Quality of Care

Sub Track

Incident Learning Systems

Citation

J Clin Oncol 36, 2018 (suppl 30; abstr 236)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2018.36.30_suppl.236

Abstract #

236

Poster Bd #

H2

Abstract Disclosures