BeamSite: A New Paradigm in Radiation Delivery
Are you or one of your loved ones planning to undergo radiation therapy? At DoseOptics, we know how daunting and even stressful upcoming treatment can be. This is, in fact, one of the reasons we created BeamSite, a radiation visualization tool designed for clinical use: because we want to assuage any fears for those receiving radiation.
With BeamSite, doctors can–for the first time–monitor their patients’ radiation delivery from start to finish. In short, the in-depth level of data it provides acts as a safeguard.
At DoseOptics, we are firm believers in patient education. You deserve to know all your treatment options and how they can improve or impact both your physical health and mental well-being. Today, we’re diving into the benefits of BeamSite, and how it works to increase patient safety.
Here are three ways BeamSite enhances you or your loved one’s radiation treatment for the better.
1. BeamSite helps verify that the radiation delivered is correct.
Radiation therapy is a technically advanced, highly precise process. It has saved, and will continue to save, so many lives. At the same time, there is still margin for technical and human error when it comes to the treatment delivery. Treatment errors can cause a wide range of negative effects, varying from mild to life-threatening.
Radiation is often referred to as a “blind” procedure because x-rays are invisible. Although patients are carefully aligned and imaged before treatment begins, stuff happens. Patients move, cough, sneeze, wiggle, itch. Treatments are complicated and sometimes, things are missed or go unnoticed. These things matter. Recent research shows that close to 1 in 10 patients may receive suboptimal treatments.
But now, with BeamSite, the clinical team delivering radiotherapy can see radiation as it’s being delivered. The images provide real-time, direct visual evidence that the beam is on, that it is in the right place, that the patient remains compliant while the beam is delivered, and that the extremities of the body not intended for treatment remain outside of the beam path. The video provides a simple and intuitive means to visually monitor radiation therapy for every treatment, and errors can be spotted and corrected immediately.
2. BeamSite can help alleviate patients’ concerns over radiation treatment in a number of ways.
Radiotherapy involves using high energy rays or particles to destroy cancer cells. For someone unfamiliar with the process, this can sound intimidating or even dangerous. Without a comprehensive understanding of the procedure, people might fear the unknown elements of the treatment. BeamSite unveils some of the mystery of this process. With the clinical team’s help, patients can choose to see a recording of the radiation treatment process on themselves. Allowing a patient to see their radiotherapy treatment in real-time or providing a recording for later viewing can offer several potential benefits in alleviating concerns:
Demystifying the Process: One of the most significant sources of anxiety is fear of the unknown. By visually showing the patient how the treatment is conducted, it provides clarity, removes some of the mystery, and can make the process seem less intimidating.
Educational Value: A visual representation can serve as an educational tool. With the aid of healthcare professionals, patients can better understand the precision and control with which the treatment is delivered. This knowledge can empower the patient and help them feel more in control.
Transparency and Trust: Offering a view of the procedure can foster a sense of transparency between the medical team and the patient. When patients feel that nothing is hidden from them, trust in the medical team can be strengthened.
Reassurance About Precision: Seeing the exactness of the treatment can reassure patients about the targeted nature of radiotherapy, emphasizing that only the affected area is being treated, which can alleviate concerns about potential harm to surrounding healthy tissue.
A Sense of Involvement: Watching the procedure may give patients a sense of involvement in their treatment, reinforcing the idea that they are active participants in their healing process.
Facilitating Conversation: Having a visual reference can facilitate more in-depth conversations between patients and their healthcare providers. It gives patients a point of reference for any questions they may have.
Validation for Concerned Family and Friends: Sometimes, it's not just the patient but also their loved ones who are anxious about the treatment. A recording can serve as a tool to show family and friends what the procedure entails, potentially easing their concerns as well.
However, while these are potential benefits, it's essential to consider individual differences. Some patients might find watching the procedure or a recording of it distressing or overwhelming. It's crucial to offer this as an option rather than a standard part of the treatment process, ensuring that patients can opt in or out based on their comfort level.
3. BeamSite gives doctors a precise and shareable record of radiotherapy.
A video recording of radiation treatments can offer multiple advantages to the radiation oncologist, both in terms of patient care and professional development:
Treatment Review: The oncologist can review the procedure to ensure that everything went as planned. This can serve as an additional layer of quality assurance.
Patient Feedback: If a patient reports a particular discomfort or unusual sensation during the treatment, the oncologist can review the recording to see if there was any visible anomaly or issue that might have caused it.
Training and Education: Video recordings can be invaluable educational tools for training new radiation oncologists, radiation therapists, or other team members. It allows them to see real-life scenarios and understand the intricacies of the treatment procedure.
Communication with Colleagues: In complex cases, having a visual record of the treatment can help when discussing the case with peers or specialists. It allows for more precise communication and a shared understanding of what took place.
Research and Development: Video recordings can be used in research settings to study treatment efficacy, potential improvements in technique, or to develop new technologies.
Patient Communication: If a patient has questions about the specifics of their treatment, the oncologist can refer to the video to explain the process in detail, addressing any concerns.
Legal Protection: In the rare event of disputes or malpractice claims, a video record of the procedure can provide clarity and evidence of the treatment's execution.
Continuous Improvement: Reviewing recordings periodically can help oncologists self-evaluate and identify areas of potential improvement or modification in their technique.
Documentation and Archiving: Video records, when stored with proper privacy protections, can serve as part of the patient's medical record and can be valuable for long-term follow-up or if a patient undergoes subsequent treatments.
By verifying the accuracy of radiation treatment, taking detailed recordings at every stage, and increasing communication among all parties, BeamSite optimizes patient safety, giving patients peace of mind as they’re entering each round, or fraction, of treatment.
Interested in seeing specific examples of how BeamSite has increased patient safety in the past? We invite you to contact us. Because you and your loved ones deserve to feel safe and secure throughout each round of radiation therapy.
