SU-A-211-01: Professional Council Symposium: Preparing for Radiation Oncology ACR/ASTRO Accreditation

Abstract

ACR/ASTRO Radiation Oncology Practice Accreditation program is a third party objective peer review of Radiation Oncology practice by practicing volunteer Radiation Oncologists and Medical Physicists. The goals of the program are to provide impartial third party peer review of clinical practice; to evaluate processes and promote quality of patient care; to promote continued learning; and to recognize quality radiation oncology practices through accreditation. The surveyors will spend a day on site interviewing the staff, reviewing 10 + charts, policies and procedures, quality assurance data, machine calibration data, peer review practices, morbidity and mortality conference, personnel qualifications, patient and staff safety, processes etc. The report submitted by the surveyors is reviewed by senior surveyor committee members for recommendations, if needed, for improvement in practice and patient outcomes according to the recognized standards of scientific information, such as ACR standards and guidelines, ASTRO white papers and best practices and AAPM Task Force group reports. The final report comprises of tables comparing facilities staffing and equipment ratios to similar size and type of accredited facilities, comments and recommendations regarding the data collection and reviewed patient cases and recommendations for improvement. Accreditation for 3 years is granted when the facility is in substantial compliance. Accreditation will be deferred if there is substantial non-compliance to the recognized standards. The facility will be asked to submit a corrective action plan. Once the plan is approved by the committee, the facility is expected to implement the corrective action plan and submit self audit data for 120 days showing compliance before granting accreditation. In severe circumstances, the facility may need to be re surveyed after 6–12 months of implementing recommendations to bring up to the nationally recognized standards. Radiation oncology practice accreditation (ROPA) is a robust web browser based platform with electronic data submission and acquisition, rapid review by committee members and chairs with the goal providing feed back with in 4 weeks of the survey. In recognizing the importance of accreditation, ACR recommended to Legislators a mandatory accreditation and ASTRO strongly recommended accreditation for all facilities. Learning objective: 1. Why to participate in accreditation 2. Why ACR/ASTRO is partnering in this process 3. Accreditation process 4. How to convince administrators to participate 5. How this process help build a better patient care