Radiation Therapy Manufacturers

Status of Radiation Therapy Training by Manufacturers

Joint MITA - AdvaMed radiotherapy industry working group :

Accuray

Brainlab

Elekta

Nucletron

Philips

Siemens

Tomotherapy

Varian

Radiation Therapy ManufacturersTraining Status

Manufacturers provide product training

Facility identifies the appropriate personnel to be trained

Blended learning model is used for ‘JIT’ product training

Manufacturer’s training curricula approved and/or accredited

Current training programs could be leveraged more effectively to maximize a successful transfer of knowledge

Radiation Therapy ManufacturersTraining Challenges

The success of product training correlated to audience level of engagement

Attendance and active participation in training events not prioritized by the facility

Not having SAME staff attend both offsite and onsite training sessions to build on training/skills

Radiation Therapy ManufacturersTraining Challenges

Site readiness

No patients / too many patients on schedule

Inspections not complete

Device not ready

Customers may choose to not follow manufacturer’s established training agendas

The challenges are the result of decisions made by the sites and are not within the control of the manufacturers

Radiation Therapy ManufacturersProposed Enhancements

Staff training given higher priority

Ensure that clinical users attend the entire training

Increase level of engagement

Effective transfer of knowledge

Radiation Therapy ManufacturersProposed Enhancements

Facility schedules adjusted dependent upon the product being trained

Priority placed on ensuring that clinical users are made available for the duration of the training events

Training inclusive of different user roles including MD’s, physicists, dosimetrists and technologists

Version specific product training documentation made available to the user - User should ensure outdated documentation is updated regularly

Radiation Therapy ManufacturersProposed Enhancements

Professional associations should consider mandatory accreditation to address:

Minimum staffing levels

Continuing education requirements (product and clinical)

Minimum competency requirements