CHAPEL HILL, N.C., Jan. 28 (UPI) -- Advances in radiation oncology have dramatically improved the effectiveness of some treatments but they can also increase error risk, U.S. researchers say.
Lead author Dr. Lawrence B. Marks of the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill says radiation oncologists can enhance patient safety by further developing a culture of safety in which all team members are alerted to the possibility of errors.
"While errors are rare and usually do not harm the health and safety of the patient, any error is too many," Marks says in a statement. "The advent of newer, more complex treatments has somewhat altered the treatment team's responsibilities, in some cases, instilling an unwarranted perception of infallibility."
Basic principles that can maximize safety include automation, standardization, checklists, work flow improvement and redundancy for high-risk procedures, Marks says.
"Our field needs to better understand the frequency and causes of errors, especially those with the potential to do harm," Marks says. "We also need to incorporate basic human-factors principles that minimize risks, into the design of our work spaces and services. We need to develop a culture of safety in which all of the team members are working together to maximize safety and in which safety initiatives acknowledge the 'hierarchy of effectiveness.'"
The article is published in the inaugural issue of Practical Radiation Oncology, a new medical journal focused on improving the quality of radiation oncology practice.
