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treatment plan across Roswell Park's outpatient network. The board dissects the plans, ensures that all dose limits are met, field arrangements are optimal, comorbidities are properly considered and makes any suggestions for improvement. "The board is made up of different radia- tion oncologists who treat specific disease sites, so I'm getting the expertise from specialized physicians who are reviewing my treatment plans," Dr. Mathew says. "That is an assurance for the patient and the referring providers that they are get- ting the best possible care." QUALITY ASSURANCE FOR EVERY PATIENT Once the peer-review board has ensured a plan meets Roswell Park safety proto- cols and provides the best approach to treatment, an onsite Roswell physicist performs end-to-end quality assurance tests. The quality assurance conducted by the physicist validates the treatment plan will be delivered as prescribed. If any part of the plan does not meet Roswell stan- dards, treatment will not be administered and the plan will be reevaluated. This process is performed for every patient receiving care at the center. "The quality assurance piece with the help of our physics team is essential. They have their protocols to follow and if the plan does not adhere to Roswell standards, the plan will not be approved to roll out," Dr. Mathew says. "It is a long process but in the end the patient can be assured that they receive the best care." In addition to internal quality assur- ance, the center also participates in third party review to further validate the qual- ity of treatment plans being delivered. The review is completed by the MD Anderson Imaging and Radiation Oncology Core (IROC) Qua lity Assurance Center in Houston, Texas. EXCELLENCE IN TREATMENT DELIVERY At Oneida Health, the quality of cancer treatment delivery is a combination of state-of-the-art technolog y and staff expertise. Radiation therapists use a TrueBeam linear accelerator to gener- ate and deliver precise photon beams to tumors in the body, as well as Stereotactic Bea m R adiation Therapy (SBRT) to deliver a course of therapy in a condensed timeframe. Radiation therapists a lso employ motion management (RGSC- Respiratory Gating for Scanners), DIBH (Deep inspiration breath hold), and prone breast radiation therapy techniques to reduce unnecessary radiation doses to healthy organs. " We have cut t i n g ed ge t reat ment s ystem s here i n t he bu i ld i n g so t he patient does not have to go a ny where else. But the expertise of the staff, in the field of cancer care, is the difference," Dr. Mathew says. Oneida Health staff are also trained to educate the patient about what treat- ment they are getting and why, making the patient a partner in the treatment they receive and providing them with comfort along the way. "Each ca ncer patient is close to my heart," Dr. Mathew says. " Walking them through their treatments to completion, a nd a ch iev i n g t he best pat ient out- come; that is most rewa rding for me. The patient experience is an essentia l ingredient to the deliver y of a qua lity treatment plan." COHESIVE PATIENT CARE Patient s a nd prov iders who choose Oneida Hea lth will a lso benef it from the collaboration and continuum of care between medica l oncolog y, radiation oncolog y and the imaging centers on campus. The William L. Griffin Medical Oncology Center, which opened in 2017, offers 12 infusion suites, a hematology/ oncology outpatient office and is directed by a Roswell Park-affiliated physician who provides evaluations, chemotherapy infusions, palliative medicine, hematol- ogy, nutrition services, and several cancer screening services. As part of a three phase plan to oncology, Oneida Health has also invested in the expansion of their imaging, which now includes a 3 Tesla MRI, CT Simulation, PET/CT, nuclear medicine camera and a second 3D mam- mography machine. "This cohesive, high-quality cancer care program was the singular vision of the Roswell Park and Oneida Health partnership from the start," Morreale says. "Because of valued relationships with the Griffins and Gormans, as well as Roswell Park, we can now provide the very best cancer care to Central New Yorkers right in Oneida." n For more information about Radiation O n c o l o g y a t O n e i d a He a l t h , v i s i t oneidacancer.org. The center is equipped with TrueBeam radiotherapy, the most advanced linear accelerator and radiosurgery treatment system available. Pictured from left to right: Meghann Wright, RT(T), and Rossi Collaboration of a highly skilled team of employees is the difference in providing and meeting stringent quality treatment measures at the center. Pictured left to right: Kare Nicholas, RN, BSN, and Chief Radiation Therapist/ Radiation Oncology Center Manager Shaun Maroney, RT(T), MHA 1 8