the future is unwritten: summary of findings from the aamd

AAMD Virtual 46th Annual Meeting 6/7/2021

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CE Credits• To earn CE Credits for this session, you need to view the entire session and complete both the assessment questions and evaluation. • These need to be completed by Thursday, July 15

• To ask questions:• For the live session, type them into the Q&A area

• For the recorded session, post them in the discussion area for this session on the meeting platform

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The Future is Unwritten: Summary of Findings from the AAMD’s

MedDos Infinity Task Group

June 8, 2021 – 12:30pm EST

Idea Genesis

•AAMD Strategic Planning•Where is the profession potentially heading?•What is our value in the healthcare environment?• Impact of “Triple Aim” of Affordable Care Act• Improving Clinical Quality• Decreasing Cost of Healthcare • Expanding Patient Access to Care

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Task Group Charges

•What does the future of medical dosimetry look like?• Develop a framework seeking to:• Enhance our unique expertise• Embrace technology

• Be financially sustainable• Respect professional & regulatory requirements

• Advocate for our profession to our patients & colleagues

Task Group Makeup

•Diverse cross‐section of Radiation Oncology community•Wide variety of practice environments• Assorted educational backgrounds• Broad geographic locations• Involves International Members

• Inclusive of industry & professional societal affiliations

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Task Group Makeup

• Chavanon Apinorasethkul• Christopher Amaloo

• Teri Bedard• James Bell

• Nicola Bizzocchi• Dayna Bodensteiner• Colleen Brogan‐Raasch• Drew Bullock• Jessica Caselli• Mariel Cornell

• Kevin Erhart

• Madison Fletcher‐Mason

• Catherine Gagne• Matt Gerace

• Anne Greener• Destiny Jacobs• Jennifer Markham

• Anjenette Milligan

• Donna Powell• Nikhil Thacker• Kristina Trenka

Today’s Panelists

Brian Napolitano, MHL, CMD• Director of Dosimetry – Massachusetts General Hospital

Teri Bedard, BA, RT, (R)(T), CPC• Executive Director, Client & Corporate Resources – Revenue

Cycle Coding Strategies

Dayna Bodensteiner, RT, (R)(T), CMD• Director of Product Management – RaySearch Americas

Mariel Cornell, BS, CMD• Dosimetry Manager – UC San Diego Health

Catherine Gagne, MBA, CMD• Medical Dosimetrist ‐ Alliance HealthCare Services

at Anna Jacque Hospital

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Research Work to Date

•2020 Workforce Survey• 6 total reports published• Available to AAMD members via website

•2019 Salary Survey• Available to AAMD members via website

•Comprehensive Literature Review

• Long‐Form Interviews with Radiation Oncology subject‐matter experts

Skillsets

• Problem ‐ Representation of required skillsets for Medical Dosimetry clinical practice did not adequately reflect the role and current responsibilities of the profession.

• Recommendation/Action ‐ Imperative to keep the job description & desired skill sets relevant when attracting new people into the field. New suggested skill sets were created by this group based on collaborative research and posted on the AAMD web site in July 2020.

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Certification

• Problem ‐ Standard expectation is for all dosimetrists to be certified across the radiation oncology community, but approximately 15% of employers continue to allow for non‐certified professionals to perform work of medical dosimetrists.

Certification

• Recommendation/Action ‐ Employer education of the importance and what constitutes certification for medical dosimetrists by providing template job descriptions, and sample ads for employers. Engagement with RO professional societies on value of certification.

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Leadership

• Opportunity – Dosimetrists seem ideally suited for advancement in positions of leadership with Radiation Oncology and other healthcare environments. How can the AAMD support those who want to branch out beyond traditional planning responsibilities?

Leadership

• Recommendation/Action• Cultivate leadership specific resources for the AAMD website

• Design of coursework to support skill building in communication, data analytics, and project management.

• Develop mentorship program for those interested in leadership to help assist with question on education, opportunity, and advancement.

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Technology

• Opportunity ‐

Technology

• Opportunity ‐

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Technology

• Opportunity ‐

Technology

• Opportunity ‐

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Technology

• Recommendation/Action• The dosimetrist will need to be an expert in automated contouring and planning.

• The dosimetrist should consider what types of human interaction will need to be done in addition to automated planning.

• Education and training programs for both incoming dosimetrists, and those working clinically in the field, should expand toward automation.

• More training in information technologies, computer programming, and knowledge of modern process‐improvement approaches and workflow designs.

Supply & Demand

• Problem ‐

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Supply & Demand

• Problem ‐

Supply & Demand

• Recommendation/Action• Explore ways to help establish new programs and how to expand the capacity of existing programs.

• Examine ways to address financial barriers to program development

• Encourage dosimetry professionals to participate in clinical education• AAMD may need to get creative with providing incentives for those willing to teach.

• Support for advanced degrees for those wishing to pursue formal education professional opportunities.

• Industry needs to make versions of planning software for programs affordable or even free.

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Remote Planning

• Opportunity

Remote Planning

• Opportunity

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Remote Planning

• Recommendation/Action• Still a significant clinical need for dosimetrists to aid in complex simulations or patient treatments at the machine.

• Encourage dosimetrists and administrations to work together with their colleagues to determine the appropriate scope of duties that can be done remotely

• Important to make sacrifices for patient care and professional relationships.

Global Outreach

• Opportunity• How do Medical Dosimetry professionals in the United States better support our treatment planning colleagues globally? Is there opportunity to more fully recognize the role as a separate profession elsewhere?

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Global Outreach

• Recommendation/Action• Extend the reach of AAMD and MDCB to underserved areas with educational materials, training, and professional development.

• Support other countries in education and lobbing for medical dosimetry as a distinct, specialty skillset

• Offer similar collaboration to other countries via our continuing education resources based on Australian experience.

Final Steps

•Task Group Report• Draft being developed• Expected release of findings by end of summer 2021

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Audience Q&A

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the future is unwritten: summary of findings from the aamd

Documents