A microcomputer system for prescription, calculation, verification and recording of radiotherapy treatments

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The design of a microcomputer system for the reduction of mistakes in radiotherapy of cancer patients is described. The system covers prescription entry, prescription and treatment calculations, and verification and recording of the treatment set-up. A telecobalt unit was interfaced to the system and in the first 12 mo. 400 patients were prescribed and 5000 treatment fields verified. The prescription is entered by the medical officer using an interactive program and this prescription provides the reference for verifying the treatment set-up. The program allows amendments to the prescription to be made easily during the treatment course. The treatment parameters verified are field size, wedge and treatment time. The system uses bar-codes for patient and field identification. A reduction in the number of mistakes was achieved and future developments are discussed.