Quality Care and Outstanding Staff

Each Center operates under the direction of a board certified radiation oncologist. Cross coverage is provided among Centers, so that patients always have access to a center physician.

Clinical support staff must meet stringent standards for technical skills, and be certified in their fields. Of equal importance, though, is that they are aware of the special needs of the cancer patient, and perform their therapeutic role in a sensitive and caring manner.

An individualized program of care, including simulation, treatment planning and appropriate blocking, is developed for each patient. Treatment includes regular visits with the radiation oncologist and physician assistant or nurse to monitor vital signs and patient progress.

Staff at the Centers monitor each patient's physical and emotional condition, noting changes during treatment, reporting these changes to physicians who recommend appropriate intervention. This includes individual and/or family counseling, educational programs and nutritional services offered by a registered dietician.

Communication with Referring Physicians

It is the philosophy of 21st Century Oncology that patients must continue their care under the supervision of the primary care and/or referring physicians.

Center physicians are in frequent communication with other physicians involved in the patient's care. This begins with the initial patient consultation and continues as requested throughout the course of treatment. If the patient's condition suggests a need for nutritional or psychological counseling, the referring physician is consulted prior to the referral.

At the completion of treatment, the radiation oncologist forwards a summary report to the referring physician and other concerned physicians. Follow-up appointments are scheduled to monitor patient response to treatment and to make sure that no further intervention is needed.

Continuous Quality Improvement

Quality improvement in the 21st Century Oncology centers is an ongoing program designed to verify optimal appropriate patient care based upon objective standards. Such standards have been published by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO); supplemented by specific standards for radiation oncology developed by the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) and other applicable guidelines.

The intent of Continuous Quality Improvement is educational as well as process-oriented. Efforts are designed to enhance the capabilities of medical and clinical staff as well as to improve service offered to the patient and concerned physicians.

The Center's Quality Assurance Committee is comprised of staff members from all departments. Committee members meet on a monthly basis to discuss process and service issues and to make recommendations on improvements.