Description:

As radiation therapy evolves, the need for standardized data and communication frameworks has never been greater. Efforts to harmonize radiotherapy-specific nomenclature, such as TG-263 and the Operational Ontology for Oncology (O3), have revealed gaps between standardization efforts and real-world clinical practice. In response, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) have launched a pan-Canadian cancer data strategy, recognizing radiation therapy (RT) as an ideal starting point for interprofessional collaboration. Standardized RT data not only enhances system-wide decision-making and facilitates benchmarking but also plays a crucial role in ensuring patient safety especially in complex scenarios like reirradiation.

Reirradiation presents unique challenges that demand a coordinated, interprofessional approach. With the increasing prevalence and complexity of re-irradiation cases, patients often receive treatment at different facilities from their initial course, leading to variations in policies and procedures across programs. Establishing a common nomenclature facilitates plan sharing, better-informed clinical decisions ultimately optimizing patient outcomes in both routine and high-risk treatment scenarios.

Objectives:

• Understand the role of standardized RT data in enhancing safety, decision-making, and AI implementation.
• Explore the current uptake of TG-263 and O3 data standards and their impact on RT practice.
• Examine the challenges of reirradiation, including variations in practice and critical incidents.
• Discuss the importance of interprofessional collaboration in reirradiation and propose steps toward standardized protocols.

This session aligns with the CAMRT Strategic Plan Pillar 'MRTS Prepared for the Future'

Approved for 1 Category A Credit