Table 4.

Therapist chart check detail checklist items for new patient treatment preparation

Therapist chart check: New patient treatment checklist
Consent signed by the patient
Prescription approved by the attending
Treatment plan document approved by the attending
Physicist plan check completed
Face photo in RO-EMR*
Treatment related accessories ready in treatment room*
Simulation photo for treatment position setup in RO-EMR*
Patient treatment position steup related documentation clear and understandable*
Check existance of previous treatment tatoos*
Treatment devlivery parameter accurate
Digital reconstructed radiographs display and associated to the correct fields
Skin rendering available when appropriate*
Special instruction entered accordingly when necessary*
Image guidance instruction appropriate and approved
Additional action needed for special physics consult
IMRT QA performed and approved
Isocenter coordinate correct for image guidanded modalities (eg, CBCT)
Dry run performed when appropriate
Treatment delivery related third party software information/entry ready (eg, surface imaging modalities, ultrasound imaging guided systems, etc)*
Is this an inpatient?
Is plan ready 3 hours before scheduled time?
Will the patient receive chemotherapy as well?
Does the patient have transportation issues?
Does the patient need an interpreter?
Insurance preauthorization treatment technique and number of treatment fractionations verified

This is a required step before any patient treatment course can be started in our institution. Items denoted with an asterisk (*) are related to some of the high frequncy input LO found in this study.

Abbreviations: CBCT = cone-beam computed tomography; LO = learning opportunities; RO-EMR = radiation oncology electronic medical record; IMRT = intensity modulated radiation therapy; QA = quality assurance.